Donald Dean Ludlum, 78, of Iola, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at the Allen County Hospital.

Dean was born June 12, 1934, on the family farm west of Elsmore, Kansas, the son of William Russell and Meryl Alderman Ludlum. He drove the school bus as a high school student and graduated from Elsmore High in 1952. He graduated from Neosho County Junior College where he played basketball and then served in the U.S. Army where he was recruited to play basketball.

On Sept. 26, 1954, Dean married Lila Rose Jackson at Bronson, and resided in Elsmore. She preceded him in death May 2, 2004, and Dean moved to Iola in 2005.

Dean worked in the oil fields and worked seven years at Berg Manufacturing in Iola before he retired.

Survivors are two children, Debra Grace Ludlum of Iola, and Don “Pete” Ludlum of Bonita Springs, Fla.; a sister, Donna Bauer of Iola; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Cremation has taken place.

Memorial visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 4 at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com