Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Willis E. Fitch
NEWTON - Willis E. Fitch. 81, died Jan. 20, 2000, at Friendly Acres Retirement Community, Newton.
He was born Dec. 30, 1918, at Mountain Grove, Mo., the son of Louis Newton and Lina Hicks Fitch. A longtime Newton resident, he was a former mechanic for International Harvester and Rhodes Construction. He was a former inspector for Cessna Aircraft for 17 years, retiring in 1983.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
On Sept. 4, 1938, he married
Ella M. Schroeder. She died Sept. 10, 1976.
Survivors include: a son, Larry, Everett, Wash.; a daughter, Carolyn Schmidt, Newton; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Winifred and Willa Jeanne Fitch.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel, Newton, with Pastor Clarence Rempel presiding. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.
Memorials may be sent to Meadowlark Homestead Residential Services Program in care of the funeral home.
Billie Louise Sater
GREAT BEND - Billie Louise Sater, 63, died Jan. 21, 2000, at Great Bend.
She was born May 3, 1936, at Wichita, the daughter of Lee Roy and Alice Emily Briggs Roadarmer. She graduated from Wichita West High School. A Great Bend resident since 1975, moving from Mountain Home, Idaho, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to First Congregational United Church of Christ and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
She married
James W. Sater. He survives.
Other survivors include: three sons, Thomas Lee, Valparaiso, Ind., Ronald E., Boise, Idaho, and Larry L, Wichita; a brother, Keith Roadarmer, St. Petersburg, Fla.; a sister, Dorothy Mills, Mulvane; and 13 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Dianco.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Fryberger Mortuary, Great Bend. Friends may call from 1 p.m. to service time Monday at the mortuary. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, in care of the mortuary.
James Daniel `Jim' Rutschman
NORTH NEWTON - James Daniel "Jim" Rutschman, 80, died Jan. 21, 2000, at his home.
He was born Aug. 15, 1919, at Newton, the son of Fred A. and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Ewy Rutschman. He owned and operated the Guest House Restaurant on Main Street, then food service for the Ramada Inn, and Kentucky Fried Chicken, all at Newton.
He belonged to Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.
On May 14, 1944, he married
Charlotte Leap at Furley. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Roger, Newton; a brother, Willard, San Marcos, Calif.; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Graveside service will be at 3 p.m. today in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, with the Revs. Steve Yoder and Norma Johnson presiding. Friends may call until service time today at Petersen Funeral Home, Newton. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.
Memorials may be sent to the Kidron Bethel Village or Central Homecare and Hospice, both in care of the funeral home.
Eileen M. Ryan
WICHITA - Eileen M. Ryan, 88, died Jan. 21, 2000.
She was born Feb. 1, 1941, at Hanston, the daughter of John and Nell Sweeney Mooney. A Wichita resident, she was a retired teacher at Allison Junior High School.
Survivors include: a nephew and three nieces, including Helen L. Mullen, Hutchinson.
Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East Chapel, Wichita. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Church of the Magdalen, Wichita. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson.
Memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Lourdes, in care of the Via Christi Foundation, 959 North Emporia Suite 402, Wichita, KS 67214.
Nell S. Allen
CATOOSA, Okla. - Nell S. Allen, 80, died Jan. 17, 2000, at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, after a brief illness.
She was born Jan. 20, 1919, at Great Bend, the daughter of Ernest E. and Elizabeth Wesley Eppstein. She graduated from Great Bend High School, Christian College, Columbia, Mo., and the Barnes Business College, Denver. A former resident of Houston, Crystal River, Fla., and Bartlesville, Okla., she was an office employee in Great Bend, and later worked in the chancellor's office at KU until 1942.
She was active in St. Luke's Episcopal Church and the Service League, Bartlesville.
In June 1940, she married
Charles M. Allen. He survives.
Other survivors include: a son, William Patrick, Catoosa; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Sisk, Catoosa; a brother, John Wesley, Tillamook, Ore.; a sister, Elizabeth Gunn, Great Bend; two grandchildren; and nephews and nieces.
There will be no service and no visitation. Interment of cremains will be at a later time.
Floral Haven Funeral Home and Cemetery, Broken Arrow, Okla., is in charge of arrangements.
Carl M. Cox
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Carl M. Cox, 55, died Jan. 20, 2000, at his home.
He was born Jan. 19, 1945, at Jacksonville, Ill., the son of Lloyd and Edith Cox. He attended schools at Hutchinson. A Springfield resident, he was a self-employed businessman and had worked at Dillon's Grocery for 19 years, then at Associated Wholesale Grocers for 17 years.
He belonged to Sunshine Baptist Church, Springfield.
On April 17, 1965, he married
Rita Sue Keevert. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Tony, Springfield; a daughter, Cheree Gaunt, Springfield; two sisters, Carol Keever and Clarice Sheffler, both of Hutchinson; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Bonnie June Cox and Nedra Findley.
Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Greenlawn Funeral Home South, Springfield, Mo., with Pastor Ron Houston presiding. Friends may call from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, near Springfield.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice of SW Missouri, Springfield, Mo.
Ione Stuart
NEWTON - Ione Stuart, 90, died Jan. 20, 2000, at Friendly Acres Retirement Community, Newton.
She was born March 23, 1909, at Furley, the daughter of Frederick and Emma Jacobson Schuessler. A longtime Newton resident, she worked as a nurse for several nursing homes in the Newton area.
She belonged to First Baptist Church, Newton.
On June 9, 1933, she married
Clifford M. Stuart at Furley. He died March 11, 1959.
Survivors include: two sons, Frederick C., Hesston, and Kenneth R., Wichita; two daughters, Loraine M. Covalt, Newton, and Emma Mae Litton, Whitewater; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Ernest, Frederick and Herbert Schuessler.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel, Newton, with the Rev. James Voth presiding. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.
Memorials may be sent to Friendly Acres Retirement Community, in care of the funeral home.
