Obituaries
Russell Anthony “Tony” Kern 1945-2012
Russell Anthony “Tony” Kern, 66, Woodstock, Md., died to cancer on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. He was born on April 19, 1945 in Topeka, to Russell and Adah Kern. Tony is survived by a daughter, three grandchildren, six sisters, as well as six nieces, two nephews, three great-nephews and six great-nieces. Tony was a 1963 graduate of Chanute High School, and attended Wichita State University. He served in the Army National Guard and was active in t...
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The Rev. Robert L. “Bob” Coppage 1924-2012
The Rev. Robert L. “Bob” Coppage, 87, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 at Delaware Highlands in Kansas City, Kan., where he was living.¬†Funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kan. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 10 until 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.¬† Rev. Coppage was born Nov. 1, 1924 in Chanute, to Walter P. and Sadi...
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David Joe Brown 1934-2012
David Joe Brown, 77, Pueblo, Colo., formerly of Chanute, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at St. Mary Corwin Hospital in Pueblo. David was born in Chanute on August 16, 1934, the son of Raymond E. and Katherine M. Bartholomew Brown. He graduated from Chanute High School in 1954. He served his country in the United States Army. He was a member of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles during the Korean Conflict. After his military service he began ...
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Cynthia Ann Hobbs Gray Bloomer 5/28/1922 - 2/20/2012
Born in Memphis, Tennessee to Henry Francis and Agnes Hart Hobbs, Cynthia was an only child. She was educated and graduated from St. Mary’s Episcopal School for Girls in Memphis and attended National Park College for Women in Washington, DC. Her first love in school was her dancing. She continued her love of dance throughout her life. She married William M. Gray III in July 1941 and moved to Chanute, Kansas. There were two sons and one daught...
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Dale Ward 1943-2012
Dale R. Ward, 68, Chanute, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012. Dale was born in Chanute on May 21, 1943 the son of Clayton and Mary Jane McMinimy Ward. He was a lifelong resident of Chanute and was the much loved president of the Chanute High School Class of 1961. He then received his Bachelor’s degree in Education and a minor in Physical Education from Pittsburg State University in 1966. Dale taught Math at Chanute High School from 1967 to 1972. He...
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Laverta W. Ackerman 1929-2012
Laverta W. Ackerman, 82, Lawrence, formerly of Savonburg, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence. She was born on June 30, 1929, in Rogers, Ark., the daughter of Gullis Despain and Lennie Wyse Despain Hayes. She graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif. Laverta was united in marriage to Bob Ackerman on March 7, 1950, in Richmond, Calif., and began her life as a devoted military wife, mother, and volunteer...
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Virginia Irene Frankenbery 1922-2012
Virginia Irene Cole Frankenbery, 89, Wichita, Virginia’s Quilt Shop owner, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. She is survived by her son, Dean Frankenbery and wife, Jewel, and daughter, Jean Stahl and husband, Gary, Wichita; grandchildren, Kelly and David Claypool, Wichita, Dr. Todd and Sara Frankenbery, Benton, Michelle and John Hall, Louisville, Ky., and Dr. Wendy and Clint Reynolds, Wichita; great-...
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Mary Haines 1929-2012
Mary Haines, 82, Chanute, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Mary was born on August 13, 1929 in Linden, N. J., the daughter of Michael and Anna Luhin Burin. She was united in marriage to H. Dean Haines on May 17, 1946 in Yates Center. The family moved to Chanute in 1949. Mary loved reading books and golf. In 1968 she got a hole-in-one at the Chanute Country Club. Mary worked as a bookkeeper for the ...
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Eugene R. Bailey 1919-2012
Eugene R. Bailey, 92, Chanute, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 at the Guest Home Estates II in Chanute. Eugene was born on June 4, 1919 in Chanute, the son of Chester Eugene and Mary L. Hayes Bailey. He attended Chanute Schools. He served his country in the United States Army from 1944 to 1945. Eugene was united in marriage to Elizabeth Pauline Burnett on Sept. 1, 1940 in Joplin, Mo. She survives, of the home. He worked as a mechanic and mainte...
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Neva A. Smith Odell 1921-2012
Neva A. Riley Smith Odell, 90, Devine, Texas, died on Feb. 14, 2012. She was born August 11, 1921 in Coffeyville and grew up in Humboldt, graduating from Humboldt High School in 1939 and Pittsburg State College. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Jack Smith and Marvin Odell, her daughter Cyndie Mayer and a grandson. Survivors include her children, Randy Smith, Sandy Merrill, Wendy North and Lindsie Hagdorn; and a sister, Jean Bicknell...
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Dorothy L. Trout 1919-2012
Dorothy L. Trout, 92, a former Galesburg and Parsons resident, died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 at the Heritage Healthcare Center in Chanute. She was born on Oct. 25, 1919 Viborg, S.D., to David and Mary Ellen Clary Milks. She moved to Parsons at age two where the family lived east of Parsons and then moved to rural Galesburg when the Kansas Ordnance Plant was established. She attended Parsons High School. She and Leland R. Trout were married on...
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Gloria M. Beech 1936-2012
Gloria M. Beech, 75, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at Neosho County Memorial Medical Center. Gloria was born June 29, 1936 in Stark, the daughter of Jewell and Ethel Potts Elder. Gloria attended Stark public schools. She was united in marriage on Dec. 23, 1952 in Stark, to Wayne Beech, who survives, of the home. Wayne and Gloria made their home in Chanute since 1955. Gloria wore many hats, over the years; mother, wife, homemake...
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Isabella Faith and Isaiah Nathaniel Cunningham
Isabella Faith Cunningham died Feb. 9, 2012 and Isaiah Nathaniel Cunningham died Feb. 10, 2012 at Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo. They are the infant twins of Jesse Cunningham and Stephanie Killion. Isabella and Isiah are survived by their parents, Jesse Cunningham and Stephanie Killion, both of Chanute; grandparents, Crystal Killion, Chanute, Kathy Bosoco, West Mineral, and Roger Cunningham, Welch, Okla.; and two siblings, Jacee and Ale...
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Helen Williams Kramer 1919-2012
Helyn Kramer, n√©e Helyn Williams and affectionately called “Helyn from Humboldt,” died Monday, Feb. 13 in Deerfield, Ill. A resident of Glenview, Ill., she was 92, just days from her 93rd birthday. Helyn was born on Feb. 22, 1919, in Humboldt, the first daughter and sixth child of William Wilson and Minnie Williams, n√©e Ryan. Helyn cherished her Kansas childhood, and with five older brothers and parents running several businesses in Humbold...
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Jesse Leon Burnett 1951-2012
Jesse Leon Burnett, 60, Erie, went to be with his Lord and Saviour on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, with his wife and children by his side. Jess was born on Oct. 31, 1951 in Parsons, to Mazie Brenner Burnett and William A. Burnett. He was raised on a farm in rural St. Paul, and attended Erie Schools where he graduated in 1969. He started work at Ruskin Manufacturing at age 18 and worked for 35 years in a supervisory position until his retirement in ...
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Charles H. “Chuck” Malcor 1928-2012
Charles H. “Chuck” Malcor, 83, Savonburg, passed away peacefully with his daughters, Colleen Smith and Victoria Johnson by his side on Monday, Feb, 13, 2012, at the Robert J. Dole V.A. Medical Center, Wichita. He was born on Sept. 10, 1928, in Carlinville, Ill., the son of Charles L. and Margaret Alexander Malcor. Charles married Virginia Wolfe on Oct. 24, 1964 in Elsmore. She preceded him in death in April 23, 2003. Charles lived much of h...
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Ralph Eugene Rayborn 1934-2012
Ralph Eugene Rayborn, 77, Tonganoxie, formerly of Chanute, died Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the Tonganoxie Nursing Center. Ralph was born on Sept. 15, 1934 in Miller, Mo., the son of Orville Hanson and Minnie Dell Williams Rayborn. He graduated from Chanute High School and attended Chanute Junior College. He served his country in the United States Army from 1957 to 1960. Ralph was united in marriage to Colene VanWinkle Davidson on July 14, ...
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Betty M. Wilkening 1928-2012
Betty M. Wilkening, 83, homemaker, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, in Mulvane Cemetery, Mulvane. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Opal Keller and Peggy Kessler; brothers, Fay and Jerry Dickinson. Survivors include her husband, Kenneth, of the home; daughter, Shirley Downer and husband, John, Douglass; son, Steven Wilkening and wife, Janet, Yukon, Okla.; brother, Clarence Dicki...
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William Clifford Cole 1918-2012
William “Bill” Cole, 93, Chanute, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at Chanute Healthcare. William was born in Chanute on July 2, 1918, the son of Willie and Odessa Moore Cole. He graduated from Chanute High School in 1936 and from Cooks and Bakers School in 1940. In 1941 he joined the United States Army and served in New Guinea and the Philippines. On Feb. 8, 1947 he married Leveda Carbin in Erie. She preceded him in death on Feb. 2, 1989. He wa...
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Caroline Josephine Burke 1935-2012
Caroline Burke, 76, Chanute, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita. Caroline was born in Morrison, Okla., on Nov. 17, 1935, the daughter of Benjamen and Susie Haak Kriegh Kustanborter. She graduated from Erie High School in 1953 and Kansas State University in 1955. She received a Master’s degree in Business from Pittsburg State University. She owned Looking Good, Inc. in Chanute and was a homemaker. Caroline is surv...
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