Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Robert O. Heck
PITTSBURG - Robert O. Heck, 69, died Jan. 31, 2000, at his home, as a result of ill health.
He was born Jan. 18, 1931, at Springfield, Mo., the son of Waller R. and Mary Owen Heck. He attended schools in Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School in 1948. He received a bachelor's degree from Southwest Missouri State University and master's and education specialist degrees from Pittsburg State University. A Pittsburg resident since 1975, moving from Cheney, he taught and coached in several southwest Missouri towns, served as coach and athletic director at Derby, as principal at Cheney, and, in Pittsburg, as principal of Roosevelt Junior High and Pittsburg Middle School. He retired in 1993 and was a longtime official for area football teams until 1998.
He belonged to First United Methodist Church, was a president and member of the Pittsburg Lions Club, the Southwest Kansas Retired Teachers Association, the Kansas and National Teachers Associations, a board member of Meals on Wheels, belonged to Benjamin A. Fuller Post No. 64 of the American Legion, was a volunteer at Wesley House, and a member of the American Owners Pilot Association. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War.
On Oct. 3, 1951, he married
Barbara Anderson at Springfield. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, James, Hutchinson, and John, Pittsburg; two daughters, Janice Eaton, Tulsa, Okla., and Jean Carlile, Wichita; a sister, Mildred Malone, Lee's Summit, Mo.; and 11 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Waller Jr.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, Pittsburg, with the Revs. Theodore A. Inman and Beverly Meadows presiding. Friends may call after 1 p.m. today at Brenner Mortuary Chapel, Pittsburg, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery, with flag-folding services by Benjamin A. Fuller Post No. 64 of the American Legion.
Memorials may be sent to Wesley House, the Mount Carmel Cancer Center, or to the Lions Club, all in care of the mortuary.
Stella Enns Ratzlaff Buller
INMAN - Stella Enns Ratzlaff Buller, 85, died Jan. 29, 2000, at Washington Home and Hospice, Washington, D.C.
She was born Oct. 29, 1914, in Harvey County, the daughter of Abraham and Justina Enns Ratzlaff. She moved from Buhler to Sun City, Ariz., in 1977, moving back to Inman in 1995. She was a homemaker.
She was a member of Buhler Mennonite Church.
On Nov. 21, 1937, she married
Vernon Buller at Inman. He survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Jimmy, Parsons; a daughter, Maribeth Gowen, Washington, D.C.; a brother, Elmer Ratzlaff, Hesston; six grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a son, Gary.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Buhler Mennonite Church, with Pastor Bob Dalke presiding. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Buhler Mortuary, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Buhler Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church or to Washington Home and Hospice, both in care of the mortuary.
Patricia A. Young
NEWTON - Patricia A. Young, 57, died Jan. 30, 2000, at her home.
She was born March 29, 1942, at Trousdale, the daughter of John E. and Pauline A. Peters Martin. A resident of Newton for 30 years, she was retired from Charlie's Restaurant, Newton.
She belonged to Meridian Baptist Church, Newton.
On Jan. 18, 1959, she married
Robert Lee Young at Peabody. He died Nov. 13, 1993.
Survivors include: two sons, Danny L., Goessel, and Robert E., Newton; a brother, John Martin, Washington; four sisters, Carol Baker, Kansas, Phyllis Duval, Texas, and Jeannette Ferrari and Virginia Przepiorski, both of California; and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Meridian Baptist Church, Newton, with the Rev. Jerroll Martens presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home, Newton. Burial will be Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.
Memorials may be sent to the church in care of the funeral home.
Thelma F. Baker
GARDEN CITY - Thelma F. Baker, 93, died Jan. 31, 2000, at Garden Valley Retirement Village, Garden City.
She was born Sept. 2, 1906, at Garden City, the daughter of Oliver Otto and Alice D. Pearce Baker. A lifetime Garden City resident, she earned her bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State College, and did graduate work at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. and Boulder State College, Boulder, Colo. She taught school in Garden City and Finney County for 42 years, retiring in 1971.
She belonged to First Christian Church, Fellowship Guild, Loyal Leaders Sunday School class, AARP and the Retired Teachers Association.
Survivors include: a brother, Vernon R. Baker, Garden City.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church, Garden City with the Rev. Donald E. Carter presiding. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. today at Garnand Funeral Home, Garden City. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery, Garden City.
Memorials may be sent to Garden Valley Retirement Village, in care of the funeral home.
Juanita A. Howard
STERLING - Juanita A. Howard, 77, died Jan. 31, 2000, at Hutchinson Hospital.
She was born Sept. 30, 1922, at Sterling, the daughter of Raymond and Essie Corley Barry. A Sterling resident since 1975, she was a homemaker.
On Aug. 27, 1940, she married
Euing Q. Howard Sr. at Hutchinson. He died Jan. 27, 1990.
Survivors include: a son, Euling Q. Howard II, Sterling; three daughters, Jackie C. Boone, El Dorado, Marcella J. Hefner, Port Royal, S.C., and Raemona Nelson, Wichita; eight grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Steven D. Howard.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Sillin Funeral Home Sterling, with the Rev. James Graves presiding. Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Sterling Community Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, in care of the funeral home.
Claris Marie Alexander
ELKHART - Claris Marie Alexander, 68, died Jan. 31, 2000, at Morton County Hospital, Elkhart.
She was born Sept. 24, 1931, at Clayton, N.M., the daughter of Francis Ewing and Mary Susan Daves Sampier. She did clerical work at various offices at Elkhart.
On June 28, 1952, she married
John B. Alexander at Clayton, N.M. He died March 15, 1995.
Survivors include: a son, Gary, Albuquerque, N.M.; a daughter, Karen Alexander, Elkhart; her mother, Clayton; a brother, Clifford Sampier, Littleton, Colo.; a sister, Cleta Goolsbey, Clayton; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at First Church of God, Elkhart, with the Rev. Ron Wilson presiding. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Harrell Funeral Home, Elkhart. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. MT Thursday in Clayton Memorial Cemetery, Clayton.
Memorials may be sent to Elkhart Ministerial Fellowship or the Methodist men's toy drive, both in care of the funeral home.
