Daniel R. Aikman, 80, of Palm Springs, Calif., formerly of El Dorado, former Columbia Pictures of Hollywood,
Calif., dancer, actor and artist, died Monday, Jan. 13, 1992. Service 10 a.m. Thursday, Belle Vista Mausoleum.
Survivor: son, Harold M. Witherspoon of Palm Springs, Calif. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 21 Jan 1992)
Aikman, Esther Geraldine, 80, former Wichita Eagle executive secretary and department
store model, died Sunday, July 16, 2000. Service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Downing & Lahey Mortuary East.
Survivors: son, John of Wichita; daughters, Martha Baake, Barbara Aikman both of Wichita; brother, Elmer Day of
Medicine Lodge; sister, Agnes Greer of Pratt; one grandchild.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 18 July 2000)
Frances (Cleaver) Benson, 79, retired teacher, died Monday, May 7, 1990. Service 10
a.m. Wednesday, First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors: husband, George; son, George III of Houston; daughter, Emily Mathias of El Dorado; sisters, Alma Violett
of Bethany, Okla., Gladys Reeder of Osceola, Mo., Wynne Cleaver of Laguna Hills, Calif., Verley Newsom of Laguna
Beach, Calif.; five grandchildren. Memorial has been established with the Bradford Memorial Library. Carlson Funeral
Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 8 May 1990)
George S. Benson Jr., 78, attorney, died Tuesday, May 29, 1990. Service 10 a.m. Saturday, First Presbyterian
Church.
Survivors: son, Dr. George III of Houston; daughter, Emily Mathias, brother, Page, both of El Dorado; sister, Peggy
Stephenson of Wichita; five grandchildren. Memorial has been established with the Salvation Army. Carlson Funeral
Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 31 May 1990)
Benson, Page W., 80, died Monday, July 24, 2000, at Susan B. Anthony Hospital. Service 10 a.m. Friday, First
Presbyterian Church; entombment will follow in Belle Vista Mausoleum.
He was born Sept. 1, 1919, in El Dorado, the son of George J. and Mabel (Sinclair) Benson. He graduated from El
Dorado High School in 1937 and was an athlete. He lettered in football, basketball, tennis and track. He won the
first El Dorado decathlon in 1936 and then again in 1937. He also helped with efforts to get dances at school,
in which he was successful. Page graduated from Indiana University in 1941 with a degree in business. He was a
member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1847, having previously
taken time out for service in the military. He entered the Army on Aug. 26, 1942, at Fort Leavenworth. He remained
there, as a counselor at the induction center. He later attended OCS and became a commissioned Second lieutenant.
After graduating from law school, he took and passed the Bar exam on July 25, 1947.
He met Neil Legler while stationed at Fort Leavenworth, and they were married June 28, 1947.
He entered the practice of law in El Dorado with his father and brother. He served as Assistant County Attorney
from 1957-60, and was elected District Judge in 1960. After his retirement in 1987, he served as a visiting Circuit
Judge for several years.
Mr. Benson had many interests and activities. During the 1950's he sang in a barber shop quartet and was a charter
member of the local chapter of the Society and Preservation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. During the
1960's he enjoyed boating with his family and friends at Grand Lake, Okla. Also at this time he coached youth baseball
and softball teams. He organized and coached the first El Dorado swim team. During the 1970's and to date he enjoyed
playing and watching tennis. He was also a good cook and a Top Chef graduate. He was an avid reader, especially
of history, and was a jazz enthusiast.
He was a charter member of the Council for Special Services, now Flinthills Services Inc., serving persons with
disabilities. He was a charter member of both the Local and State Association for Retarded Children, now called
the ARC.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He had sung in the choir and was an Elder of the church. He had
served on the executive board of the Kansas Bar Association, was a member of the Kansas Historical Society, was
a member of the Board of Active Aging. He served on the El Dorado United Way Board, and delivered Meals on Wheels
for 15 years. He also served on the board of directors of the Bluestem Chapter of American Red Cross.
Preceded in death by son, Dirk; brother, George Benson; sister, Peggy Stephenson.
Survivors: wife, Neil of the home; son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Sarah Benson of Houston; daughters and sons-in-law,
Jill and Greg Robinson of Silverdale, Wash., Erin and Larry Hoffman of Canon City, Colo.; grandchildren, Hollie
and Erin Benson, Tanner, Emily and Hannah Hoffman, and Nicholas Robinson. Memorials have been established with
Arc of Butler County and Presbyterian Church choir and may be left at Carlson Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 28 July 2000)
Browne, Viola A., 91, Browne's Market co-owner, died Monday, April 15, 2002. Visitation with family 6 to
8 p.m. Friday; service 11 a.m. Saturday, both at Carlson Funeral Home.
Survivors: daughter, Carol Lynn Burns of Azores, Portugal; sisters, Virginia Miller of Wichita, Betty Jones of
Kingwood, Texas; two grandchildren. Memorial established with First Christian Church.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 18 April 2002)
EL DORADO - Clymer, David H.,
79, retired El Dorado Times owner and publisher, died Dec. 12, 2003. Service 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, First United Methodist
Church.
Survivors: wife, Sherry of the home; son, Richard of Fairbanks, AK; daughters, Sara Stern of Seaside, CA, Kristine
LaForge of Wichita, Victoria Hunt of Phoenix, AZ; 3 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild. Memorial established with
Partners in Education. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Published in the Wichita Eagle from 12/15/2003 - 12/16/2003.
Dittmer, Dorothy "Dottie," 71, homemaker, died Sunday, March 11, 2001. Service 1 p.m.
today, Prairie Homestead Nursing Home; entombment 10 a.m. today, Belle Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: son, David of Aurora, Colo.; daughter, Dana Pittman of Parker, Colo.; three grandchildren. Kirby-Morris
Funeral Home, El Dorado.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 13 March 2001)
PEARL M. ELLIOTT, 98, of Niceville, Fla., former El Dorado resident, homemaker and retired oil field rig
building contractor, died Monday, Sept. 1, 1986. Service 4 p.m. Thursday, Carlson Funeral Home.
Survivors: daughter, Lucille Schaefer of Tulsa; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 3 Sept 1986)
Fillmore, Geneva G., 94, retired hat shop milliner, died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000. Private family service.
Survivors: brothers, Harold Fillmore of El Dorado, Gerald Fillmore of Dallas; sister, Marjorie Fillmore of El Dorado.
Memorial established with Temple Baptist Church Missions. Carlson Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 28 Dec 2000)
NELLIE D. GILLILAND, 95, of El Dorado, homemaker, died Tuesday, March 24, 1987. Service 11 a.m. Thursday, Belle
Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: sons, Bill, Don, Gerald, all of Wichita; daughter, Vivian Musgrove of El Dorado; three grandchildren;
two great-grandchildren. Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 25 March 1987)
MARC A. GODDING, 84, of Weslaco, Texas, former El Dorado resident, retired businessman, died Thursday, Aug.
28, 1986. Service 4 p.m. Saturday, Bella Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: wife, Verda; son, Marc Jr. of Oklahoma City; daughters, Marcia Alley of San Antonio, Texas, Rogene Gillmor
of Higganum, Conn.; sister, Genevieve Ridgway of Lindsborg; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Memorial
has been established with the American Cancer Society. Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 29 Aug 1986)
ORVILLE GRAY'S GOAL WAS HELPING OTHERS RETIRED DENTIST DESCRIBED AS A VERY HUMBLE MAN
Dentist Orville Gray had a goal that when he retired,
he would set aside at least one day to help others.
"But it was more like he had one or two days for himself, and he gave of himself the rest of the time,"
said the Rev. Dennis Kuder of First United Methodist Church in El Dorado. "He far exceeded his goal."
From removing snow off neighbors' driveways to chopping free firewood; from putting up hay bales at friends' farms
to painting and fixing up First United Methodist, the retired dentist was one of the most humble people Kuder said
he ever met.
Dr. Gray, 74, was killed in an accident on his farm in El Dorado Thursday when a tree he had been cutting down
by himself fell on him. A worried neighbor found Dr. Gray several hours after the accident.
Kuder and one of Dr. Gray's longtime friends speculated that the strong winds forced the tree to fall and hit him
unexpectedly as he went to his pickup truck for a chainsaw.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist, 421 W. Central in El Dorado.
"He was very well-known in El Dorado, a pillar in the community,'' Kuder said. "He was so humble. He
did deeds no one knew he did until others talked about it - he would never mention them."
Dr. Gray was born and raised around Towanda and El Dorado. He attended El Dorado Junior College and the University
of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Dentistry.
He then moved to El Dorado, where he opened his own dental practice in the late 1940s, said Dr. Warren Barber,
a close friend and retired dentist. Dr. Gray retired in 1984, a year before his colleague
"We never competed against each other,'' his friend said. "We would take care of each other's patients
when one of us went on vacation."
Dr. Gray's hobby was his land and he spent much of his time maintaining it and trimming trees.
Dr. Gray and his wife, Ruth, had been married more than 50 years, Kuder said. They participated in Community Concert,
an organization that brings musicians and vocalists to small communities to perform.
Other survivors include his mother, Susie Gray, of El Dorado; two daughters, Brenda Sue Richardson and Marsha Rice,
both of Wichita; a sister, Gertie Hartman, of Lenexa; and two grandchildren.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 27 Oct 1996)
Hudson, Dorothy P., 92, homemaker, died Friday, Feb. 25, 1994. Services 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Prairie Homestead
Nursing Home Chapel, Wichita, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Belle Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: daughter, Dorothy Dittmer of Wichita; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Memorial has been established
with Prairie Homestead Nursing Home. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home, El Dorado.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 28 Feb 1994)
Jones, Lester, 98, retired Sicelly Oil Co. employee and dairy farmer, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 1995. Service
2 p.m. today, Belle Vista Mausoleum. Survivors: son, Glenn Ray, daughter, Leoan Way, both of El Dorado; sister,
Ada Cook of Lincoln, Neb.; one grandchild; two great-grandchildren; two great-great- grandchildren. Carlson Funeral
Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 28 Nov 1995)
DR. GLEN KASSEBAUM CARED FOR MORE THAN EL DORADO'S HEALTH
Glen Kassebaum's friends called him Dr. K, and his
community called him a pillar.
''He was a community leader; I don't think there is any question about that," said a longtime friend, Charles
Heilmann, who lives in El Dorado, where Dr. Kassebaum practiced medicine for more than 50 years.
Dr. Kassebaum founded his medical practice in 1927 and soon became deeply involved in his community. He served
on the El Dorado school board from 1939 to 1955 and was one of the original members of the Butler County Community
College board of trustees, on which he served for 16 years.
At the college, Dr. Kassebaum is probably best remembered for his efforts to create a nursing program, Heilmann
said.
He also helped establish the Butler County Mental Health Center, which later became known as the South Central
Mental Health and Counseling Center.
''He and Karl Menninger were friends," Heilmann said. "They went back to their college days together.
So you might say he, early, had a very forward-looking view on mental health."
A few years after the Institute of Logopedics opened in Wichita in 1934, Dr. Kassebaum, with help from the Elks
and Kiwanis clubs of El Dorado, opened a branch office. The El Dorado office of the Institute of Logopedics was
the first branch office outside Wichita.
Dr. Kassebaum died Saturday. He was 92. A service is planned for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist
Church in El Dorado.
He belonged to the El Dorado Kiwanis Club for 60 years, the American Red Cross board, the Kansas Children's Service
League, the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce and the American Medical Association.
Heilmann said Dr. Kassebaum was recognized for his service to El Dorado at a 1989 awards ceremony.
''The place was jam-packed," Heilmann said. "He was presented with plaque after plaque after plaque."
Dr. Kassebaum is survived by his wife, Gertrude; a son, Kenneth G. Kassebaum of Wichita; a daughter, Nance Johnson
of Santa Maria, Calif.; a stepson, Richard Burch of Burbank, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with First United Methodist Church and Butler County Community College School of
Nursing Scholarship Fund. The Carlson Funeral Home of El Dorado is handling arrangements.
Knowles, Sharon Silvers, 59, of Wichita, died Tuesday morning at HCA Wesley Medical
Center. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 20, 2007, at First United Methodist Church, El Dorado.
Entombment will follow in Belle Vista Mausoleum. She was born February 15, 1948, in Joplin, Missouri, and as a
baby became the daughter of Clem and Nadine (Stonecipher) Silvers. She spent most of her life in El Dorado and
moved to Wichita in 1999 to be closer to her three children. She graduated from El Dorado High School in 1966,
later from Butler County Jr. College, and took courses at Duke University. In the 70's she worked as a nurse in
San Diego, California, then in Topeka, later working in El Dorado for Dr. Girard. In her early years she worked
as a hair dresser, and later owned the Crystal Beauty Salon in El Dorado. Sharon was a member of First United Methodist
Church. She was a member of the National Committee for Adoption, and was a lifelong advocate for adopted children
in Kansas and all over the Country. She served on the board of Red Cross in El Dorado and also was on the South
Central Kansas Advisory Committee for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Sharon was one of the founding contributors and
supporters of the Sunlight Children's Advocacy & Rights Foundation of El Dorado. Sharon's main role in life
was to love and take care of her children, and to be a loving and caring friend to those she knew. She will be
deeply missed. Those she leaves are her children, Kerrie Knowles, Kellie Knowles and Joel Foltz, Brandon Knowles
and Chandra Russell all of Wichita; her Aunt Betty Pinon of El Dorado. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorials in her memory have been suggested to the Sunlight Children Advocacy & Rights Foundation of El Dorado
or El Dorado Chapter of the American Red Cross which may be left with Carlson Funeral Home which is in charge of
the arrangements. Friends may send condolences to www.carlsoncolonial.com
Published in the Wichita Eagle from 4/19/2007 - 4/20/2007.
FRANK T. KOBEL, 89, of El Dorado, retired farmer and stockman, died Friday, June 19, 1987. Service 2 p.m.
Monday, Carlson Funeral Home.
Survivors: wife, Audrey; son, Craig of El Dorado; daughter, Margaret Jane Biltonen of Charlottesville, Va.; stepdaughter,
Mary E. Chollett of Kansas City, Mo.; four grandchildren. Memorial has been established with the Bradford Memorial
Library.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 21 June 1987)
Locke, Marjorie P., 72, retired USD 490 maintenance employee, died Wednesda y, May 15, 2002. Service 10 a.m.
Saturday, First Southern Baptist Church.
Survivors: husband, Tommy; daughters, Jeanie Williams, Deb Spencer both of El Dorado; brothers, James Cardwell
of Chandler, Okla., Lester Cardwell of N.M.; sisters, Rita Green of Hutchinson, Dee Hoyt of Towanda; two grandchi
ldren; one great-grandchild. Memorial established with First Southern Baptist Church Scholarship Fund. Kirby-Morris
Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 16 May 2002)
Maguire, Irene, retired Butler County register of deeds office clerk, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 1995. Service
10 a.m. Friday, Belle Vista Mausoleum.
No survivors. Memorial has been established with the First Christian Church. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 5 Jan 1995)
McCollum, Robert H., 88, retired El Dorado High School principal, died Sunday, May 28, 1995. Service 2 p.m. Wednesday,
Presbyterian Church.
Survivor: son, Jack Emerick of Colorado Springs. Memorial has been established with El Dorado Presbyterian Church.
Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 30 May 1995)
McCully, Robert T. "Bob," 86, retired farmer and rancher, died Saturday, June 3, 2000.
Service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Survivors: sons, Larry of El Dorado, Bill of Andover; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Memorial has
been established with American Cancer Society.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 4 June 2000)
EL DORADO - McKean, Halley M.,
96, homemaker, formerly of El Dorado, died Monday, Nov. 20, 2006 in Aurora, Colo. Graveside services will be 10
a.m. Saturday at Belle Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home is taking care of the funeral arrangements.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 11/23/2006.
DEAN McSPADDEN, 87, of El Dorado, retired Mobil Oil Co. employee, died Tuesday. Service 2 p.m. Saturday,
Bella Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: son, Harold of New York City; five grandchildren; three great- grandchildren. Memorial has been established
with El Dorado High School for the Larry McSpadden Memorial Award. Carlson Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 7 Nov 1985)
McSPADDEN, HAROLD DEAN "SPARKY"
Harold Dean "Sparky" McSpadden, 68, of New York City, formerly of Wichita, retired Dupont
Corp. marketing director, died Monday, March 23, 1992. Service 10 a.m. Saturday, Belle Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: son, H. Dean of Wilmington, Del.; daughters, Gail Newton of Kansas City, Kan., Christine Cato of Pasadena,
Calif., Laurie Diamond of Wilmington; five grandchildren. Hillside Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 25 March 1992)
Morgan, Francis W. "Frank," 78, retired independent geologist, died Wednesday, Feb. 19,
1997. Service 1 p.m. Monday, Trinity Episcopal Church.
Survivors: wife, Betty; son, Garth of Wichita; sister, Betty Jane Holloway of Austin, Texas; three grandchildren;
one great-grandchild. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 22 Feb 1997)
Musgrove, R.W. "Swede," 87, retired owner and operator of city laundry and cleaners
and real estate and oil producer, died Saturday, April 20, 1996. Service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Belle Vista Mauseleum.
Survivors: wife, Vivian; sons, Don Gilliland of El Dorado, Tony Gilliland of Edwardsville; daughter, Eylene Gaudreau
of Wichita; sisters, Gladys Franklin of Sun City, Ariz., Irene Huckabay of Hiawatha; six grandchildren. Memorial
has been established with the Bradford Memorial Library. Carlson Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 21 April 1996)
MUSGROVE, VIVIAN
L.
EL DORADO - Musgrove, Vivian L., 93, retired owner and operator of City Laundry and Cleaners
for 60 years, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. Service 2 p.m. today, Carlson Funeral Home. Survivors: sons and spouses,
Don and Susan Gilliland of El Dorado, Tony and Cindy Gilliland of Edwardsville, Kan.; daughter, Eylene Gaudreau
of Wichita; grandchildren, Gabrielle Gaudreau, Genevieve Gaudreau, Cole and Hallie Gilliland, Jessica Martin, Russell
William Gilliland. Memorial with Hospice Care of Kansas.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 24 Jan 2006)
MYERS, CHARLES THOMAS "CHARLIE"
EL DORADO - Myers, Charles Thomas "Charlie", 26, of El Dorado died Sunday, June 3, 2007 in the Hospital Faculty Bulovka, in Prague, Czech
Republic. The Celebration of Charlie's life will be 1:00 pm Friday at the First United Methodist Church in El Dorado.
Entombment will follow in the Belle Vista Mausoleum. Charlie was born January 29, 1981 in El Dorado, the son of
Marc and (the late) Nancy Myers (Strafer). He attended El Dorado schools and graduated from El Dorado High School
with the class of 1999. Charlie attended Kansas University where he was a Beta Theta Pi. Charlie graduated in 2003
with a BA in Business Administration. Charlie began attending Thunderbird University International School of Finance,
in Phoenix Arizona, in the spring of 2007. Thunderbird University is an International Business School and Charlie
was studying to receive a Masters of Business Administration. Charlie was in Prague to begin a four-week international
program affiliated with Thunderbird University. Charlie was an avid basketball player and was a member of the El
Dorado High School State runner-up team in 1998 having lost the championship at the buzzer. He also ran Cross Country
at the State Level. He loved sports, basketball in particular, and dreamed of some day working for an NBA franchis
e. Charlie loved life and lived it to the fullest with confidence. Charlie was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church
in El Dorado. Surviving family include his Father, Marc Myers of El Dorado, Brothers George and his wife Keri Myers
of El Dorado with their children Grace, Trey, Guy and Alice and Max and his wife Janie Myers of Edmond OK with
their sons Max James and Alexander. A memorial has been established with Partner's in Education for an annual scholarship
for a High School student in Charlie's name. Contributions may be left with Kirby-Morris Funeral home who is assisting
the family with their arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbymorrisfuneralhome.com
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 6/6/2007.
EL DORADO - Myers, Nancy Ann,
57, died Sunday, February 5, 2006. The Celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2006
at the First United Methodist Church in El Dorado. On Wednesday evening there will be a visitation at the Trinity
Episcopal Church between the hours of 7 p.m.and 8 p.m. Nancy was born March 13, 1948 in Evanston, Illinois the
daughter of Guy Harpel and Frances Elizabeth (Schraeder) Strafer. She attended schools in Evanston and graduated
from Evanston Township High School with the Class of 1969. She attended Kansas University where she met her future
husband Marc. They were united in marriage on September 20, 1969. She came to El Dorado in 1969. She owned North
Ward Antique Store. Nancy had an eye for art and collecting antiques. She was a wonderful photographer and many
of her pictures can be seen in El Dorado homes and businesses. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Delta
Delta Delta Sorority, the American Society of Appraisors, El Dorado Charities. She also was a longtime Board Member
of Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital and had served as a mentor to high school children interested in collecting
American antiques. Surviving family include her husband Marc of the home; three sons, George and his wife Keri
of El Dorado, Max and his wife Janie of Edmond, Oklahoma, Charlie of Lawrence, Kansas; brother Richard and his
wife Holly Strafer of Coral Gables, Florida; sister Betty Ann Morgan of St. Augustine, Florida; grandchildren Grace,
George Marc III (Trey), Guy, and Max James. A memorial has been established with Partners in Education for an annual
scholarship for a highschool student in Nancy's name. Contributions may be left with the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home
who is assisting the family with their arrangements.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 2/7/2006.
EL DORADO - Nelson, D.R. "Nubs",
83, salesman for Superior School Supplies, died Sept. 17, 2004. Service 2:30 p.m. Monday, 1st United Methodist
Church of El Dorado.
Survivors: wife, Shirley of El Dorado: sons, Rusty of Lakeville, MN, Rick of Indian Hill, CO; daughters, Judy Friesen
of Wichita, Susan Devore of Lawrence, Nancy Morgan of White City: sister, Juanita Dodd of Boaz, AL; 12 grandchildren;
6 great-grandchildren. Memorial with the 1st United Methodist Church of El Dorado. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 9/19/2004.
Marie A. Newacheck, 88, of 1633 May, retired teacher, died Monday, Dec. 4, 1989. Service 11 a.m. Wednesday,
Belle Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivor: brother, Karl of Russell. Memorial has been established with the American Baptist Association for Prairie
Homestead. Downing & Lahey Mortuary. George Junior Pennington, 42, retired Northwest Oxygen employee, died
Monday, Dec. 4, 1989. Service 11 a.m. Wednesday, Cochran Mortuary.
Survivors: son, Dustan Hal, stepdaughter, Pebbles Ann, father and stepmother, George O. and Charlotte, brother,
Stanley Ray, all of Wichita; sister, Martha Ann of Honduras; one grandchild. Memorial has been established with
Church of God Holiness.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 5 Dec 1989)
PEPPER, AUDINE (MULNIX) GRIFFITH
Pepper, Audine (Mulnix) Griffith, 83, retired teacher, died Sunday, April 16, 1995. Service
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Trinity Episcopal Church.
Survivors: son, Bill Griffith of Houston; two grandchildren. Memorials have been established with Trinity Episcopal
Church and the Arthritis Foundation. Carlson Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 17 April 1995)
RICHARD N. PRESTON, 71, of El Dorado, retired Yuma Oil Co. manager, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1989. Service 10
a.m. Thursday, Bella Vista Mausoleum.
Survivors: wife, Ruthora; daughter, Kathryn Elizabeth Bogner of Newton; two grandchildren. Memorials have been
established with the Salvation Army and the American Business Women's Association. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 8 Feb 1989)
EL DORADO - Preston, Ruthora,
82 Retired Butler-Greenwood BiCounty Health Department. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2005 Trinity Episcopal
Church.
Survivors: Kathryn Preston Bogner and her husband Dr. Paul Bogner Newton, Kansas Grandson- Matthew Preston Bogner
Wichita Kristan Elizabeth Bogner Lawrence, Kansas. Memorials: Bradford Memorial Library, Trinity Episcopal Church,
Harry Hynes Hospice. Kirby-Morris Funeral Funeral Home
Published in the Wichita Eagle from 8/16/2005 - 8/17/2005.
Robison, Esther Etta, 93, of Conifer, Colo., former Wichitan, homemaker, died Thursday, July 9, 1992. Services,
10 a.m. Tuesday, Cochran Mortuary, 11:30 a.m., Belle Vesta Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: son, Fred of Conifer; brother, Earl Burr of Sun City, Ariz.; three grandchildren. Memorial has been
established with the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 13 July 1992)
Russell, Howard E., 77, retired White & Ellis Drilling Co. geologist, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 1998. Service
2 p.m. Wednesday, Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Survivors: wife, Mary Lou; son, Michael of Andover; sister, Maxine Miller of Paris, Texas. Memorials have been
established with the Salvation Army and United Methodist Urban Ministries, Wichita.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 1 Dec 1998)
Steven Malcolm Russell, 39, antique dealer, died Sunday, Dec. 2, 1990. Service 10:30
a.m. Wednesday, Bella Vista Mausoleum.
Survivors: parents, Howard and Mary Lou of El Dorado; brother, Michael of Wichita. Memorial has been established
with First United Methodist Church. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 11 Dec 1990)
Loretta M. (Ryan) Scholler, 88, homemaker, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 1989. Rosary 7 p.m. today,
Kirby-Morris Funeral Home; service 1 p.m. Wednesday, St. John's Catholic Church.
Survivors: son, Jerry of Wichita; daughter, Mary Shields of Lenexa; brother, William Ryan of Littleton, Colo.;
nine grandchildren; eight great- grandchildren. Memorial has been established with St. John's Catholic Church.
Hays
(Wichita Eagle ~ 5 Dec 1989)
Silvers, Clem H., 88, attorney and former Allen Abstract & Title Co. owner, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999.
Service 11 a.m. Monday, First United Methodist Church.
Survivors: son, Bud of Hanover, Pa.; daughter, Sharon Knowles of El Dorado; five grandchildren. Carlson Funeral
Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 19 Feb 1999)
Silvers, S. Nadine, 81, retired teacher, died Tuesday, June 16, 1992. Service 2 p.m. Thursday, First United
Methodist Church.
Survivors: husband, Clem; son, Clem Jr. of Leon; daughter, Sharon Knowles, sister, Betty Pinon, both of El Dorado;
five grandchildren. Memorial has been established with Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital. Carlson Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 17 June 1992)
MABEL SMOCK, of El Dorado, retired real estate broker, died Sunday. Service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Kirby-Morris
Funeral Home, El Dorado.
Survivor: sister, Mrs. H.J. Maguire of El Dorado.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 19 Feb 1985)
VIRGINIA ELIZABETH STEEN, 80, of Canoga Park, Calif., formerly of El Dorado, retired
City Service Oil and Gas Co. telephone operator and Graves Drug Store employee, died Friday, July 15, 1988. Service
10 a.m. Wednesday, Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Survivors: daughter, Linda Huff of Canoga Park; sisters, Helene Zimmerman of El Dorado, Kathryn Armstrong of Bethany,
Okla. Memorial has been established with First United Methodist Church radio broadcasts fund.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 18 July 1988)
EL DORADO - Templeton, John C.,
96, farmer and former Kansas Turnpike Assoc employee, died Feb. 3, 2005. Service 2 p.m. Monday, Kirby-Morris Funeral
Home.
Survivors: wife, Bess; daughters, Kathryn and husband, Phillip Kemmerly, Mary Jane and husband, Vernon Plett; 6
grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren. Memorials to Park Ave. Baptist Church.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 2/5/2006.
Turner, Floyd E., 82, retired Rupp-Ferguson Oil Co. accountant, died Sunday, Dec. 19, 1993. Services 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Downing & Lahey Mortuary; 11:30 a.m., Bella Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: wife, Virginia; sons, Scott of Los Angeles, Mike of Derby; daughter, Linda Farner of Evergreen, Colo.;
seven grandchildren. Memorial has been established with the Wichita Children's Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 21 Dec 1993)
VIRGINIA TURNER AN ENTHUSIASTIC FOUNDING MEMBER OF SORORITY
When Virginia Turner was in college she told her
parents, according to a journal she kept, that "school was fine, but the sorority was great."
Mrs. Turner died Wednesday at 82, just days before members of her sorority convened in Wichita. On Saturday, the
sorority members departed from their published agenda to attend her funeral at Plymouth Congregational Church in
Wichita.
The group to which she belonged, Tri Psi, is associated with the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Turner was one of
Tri Psi's founding members.
Her son, Scott Turner of Greeley Colo., said he had the feeling that his mother wanted badly to be a part of the
convention in her hometown. But illness kept her from attending.
''I actually feel she hung on," Scott Turner said, "so she could become a part of the convention. She
was ornery enough, and I bet a bunch of those ladies feel like it too."
Virginia Turner's connection to the Wichita area began with her grandparents' arrival in Butler County in the 1800s.
Arriving from Ohio, they settled in an area of the county known as Chelsea. Mrs. Turner's grandfather ran a newspaper
in El Dorado, and her father, Lee Scott, got into the oil and gas business, Scott Turner said.
The family's involvement in the oil industry forced a move to Wichita. They first leased the Hypatia House, known
at that time as the Butts House, from the owners, who had departed for Europe. They settled in a home near the
original Wichita Country Club. In a journal, Virginia Turner wrote that she could see Andrews Drug Store, at Douglas
and Hillside, from the steps of her home.
Turner's father enrolled her in a Catholic girls school, so she would, according to Scott Turner, become a lady.
She hated it.
''The only way she could get out of the school was to make straight A's. She did," he said.
At Wichita East High, Virginia Turner got involved in tennis, and won championships her junior and senior years.
Then it was on to Lanwood College in St. Charles, Mo., where she joined the Tri Delt sorority.
Mrs. Turner earned a business degree and went to work in her father's oil and gas company. Scott Turner said his
mother was initially paid $60 a month. ''I think mom was born at the wrong time, in that she would have been a
CEO of a company today."
She did own Plaza Travel, a Wichita company, before her retirement.
Through the years Mrs. Turner dedicated most of her time to her husband, Floyd, and to community organizations
and events. She'll be remembered for many things, her son said, but her love for bridge playing will stand out.
''One of the statements I've heard is that she could take any hand and make three-no-trump," Scott Turner
said.
Before his mother's funeral, Scott Turner had predicted that the service and the day would be light-hearted, not
somber.
''There will be a couple of stories told," he said. "It will not be a funeral. It will be a celebration
of life."
Other survivors include a son, Mike of Derby; a daughter, Linda Farner of Mesa, Ariz.; and seven grandchildren.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 16 Oct 1994)
Wallingford, Charles "Deb", 88, retired Wallingford Grain Co, employee, died Thursday,
Oct. 31, 1996. Service 11 a.m. Tuesday, Belle Vista Mausoleum.
Survivors: brothers, Eldon of San Francisco, Paul of Wichita, Keith of Boulder, Colo.; sisters, Mona Cunningham
of Wichita, Opal Kinsey of Hobart, Okla. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 2 Nov 1996)
FRANCES A. WALLINGFORD, 83, of El Dorado, retired Wichita State University professor
emeritus of music, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 1988. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Belle Vista Mausoleum.
Survivor: husband, Charles A. Memorials have been established with the Frances Wallingford Music Scholarship Funds
at Wichita State University and Butler County Community College. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 21 Aug 1988)
Ralph W. Wallingford, 86, retired teacher, died Monday, Jan. 6, 1992. Services 10 a.m. Thursday, Prairie Homestead
Retirement Center, Wichita, 2 p.m. Belle Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: brothers, Eldon of San Francisco, Charles A. of El Dorado, Paul of Wichita, Keith of Boulder, Colo.;
sisters, Margo Maney of Beverly Hills, Calif., Opal Kinsey of Hobart, Okla., Mona Cunningham of Wichita. Memorial
has been established with Prairie Homestead, Wichita, and the Presbyterian Church of El Dorado. Kirby-Morris Funeral
Home, El Dorado.Harper
(Wichita Eagle ~ 8 Jan 1992)
Way, Leoan N. "Lee," 82, retired secretary, died Friday, May 4, 2001. Service
10 a.m. Tuesday, Belle Vista Mausoleum.
Survivors: son, Charles; brother, Glenn Lee Ray Jones both of El Dorado; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Memorials established with American Diabetes Association and El Dorado Meals-On-Wheels. Carlson Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 6 May 2001)
ROBERT T. WILBUR, 90, of El Dorado, retired Beech Aircraft Corp. employee, died Saturday. Service 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Belle Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: brother, Dwight of Centralia, Ill. Memorial has been established with De Graff (Kan.) Presbyterian Church.
Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 17 June 1985)
ERNEST C. WILSON, 81, of El Dorado, retired Skelly Refinery employee, died Friday, Feb. 26, 1988. Service
2 p.m. Tuesday, Bella Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado.
Survivors: wife, Ruth; son, Larry of Evergreen, Colo. Memorials have been established with the American Heart Association
and the Arthritis Foundation. Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 28 Feb 1988)
Woods, Charles E. "Chuck", 79, retired owner and operator Woods Lumber Co., died Wednesday,
April 15, 1992. Service 2 p.m. Saturday, Presbyterian Church. Survivors: wife, Claybel; son, Ray of Independence;
daughter, Judy Marshall of Wrightsville, N.C.; sister, Lois Kandt of Wichita; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Butler County Community College Endowment Association and Bradford Memorial
Library. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 17 April 1992)
Woods, Claybel (Houston), 79, homemaker, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1994. Service 11
a.m. Saturday, Presbyterian Church.
Survivors: son, Ray of Independence; daughter, Judy Marshall of Wrightsville Beach, N.C.; five grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren. Memorials have been established with Hospice of Butler County and Bradford Memorial Library.
Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ 10 Nov 1994)
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