Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Marvin Edward Thorne
1920 - 2005
MESA, ARIZ. - Marvin Edward Thorne, 85, died March 8. He was born in Barton County, on Feb. 26, 1920. Survivors include his wife, Annebeth Thorne; one son, Gary Marvin Thorne; two daughters, Judy Ann Meiley and Connie Jean Torres; one brother, Alfred Thorne; three sisters, Evadine Seyfert, Gladys Cary and Norma Jean Thornbrugh; 10 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. Funeral will be Saturday at the Mesa First Nazarene Church. Memorials are suggested to the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Funeral arrangements provided by Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care 400 S. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206
Curtis Ray Best
1960 - 2005
HUTCHINSON - Curtis Ray Best, 44, died March 10, 2005, at Hutchinson Hospital. He was born Sept. 10, 1960, at Hutchinson, the son of Robert Ray and Frances Helen McKenna Best. A resident of Hutchinson since 1996, he was a graduate of Quivira Heights High School, received an associate's degree from Barton County Community College and attended Wichita State University. He was co-owner of Best Appliance, Hutchinson. Best was a member of Albert Pike Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Consistory, Wichita, a lifetime NRA member, life member of the National Sporting Clay Association and a 24-year member of Narcotics Anonymous. Survivors include his parents, of Bushton; uncles, Harlan Best, Hutchinson, and Robert McKenna and Everett McKenna of Palco; aunts, Barbara Bunch, Kanopolis, Joan Gray, Commerce City, Colo., Carol McKenna, Russell, Lynn Bayles, Cumming, Ga., and Judy Maxfield and Patty Harman, both of Hutchinson; and numerous cousins. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Park Place Christian Church, with Pastor Kim Biery presiding. Cremation will follow the service. Visitation will be today and Monday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home & Crematory, with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Curtis Best Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home & Crematory 300 East 30th Ave. Hutchinson, KS 67502
Virginia Lee Smith
1932 - 2005
LARNED - Virginia Lee Smith, 73, died March 11, 2005, at her home in Larned. She was born Jan. 3, 1932, at Great Bend, the daughter of Conrad H. and Anna K. Leinberger Woelk. A longtime resident of Larned, she was a retired high school cook for USD 495. She was a graduate of Pawnee Rock High School. Smith belonged to Grace Lutheran Church, the Women's Circle, the Larned Women's Bowling League and the Garfield Quilting Club. Virginia was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a faithful KU fan. On Nov. 1, 1950, she married
James Edward Smith, Sr., at Albert. He died on April 17, 2001. After 50 wonderful years of marriage they are now reunited. Survivors include three sons, Gregory L., James E. 'Bub' Jr. and Steven K., all of Larned; two daughters, Debra G. Harbert, Larned, and Sheri L. Kendall, Lenexa; a brother, John Woelk, Rozel; three sisters, Juanita Smith, Larned, and Marjorie Peter and Jean Miller, both of Tribune; 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Julie M. Smith, and a brother, LeRoy 'Jimmy' Woelk. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, Larned, with Pastor Richard Boyer presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today, Sunday, at Morell Funeral Home, Larned. Burial will be in the Larned cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the church or to the charity or organization of the donor's choice in care of the funeral home. Mom: You will be in our heart and thoughts for ever, we will always miss you and love you, Your Loving 'Goslings, ' Greg, Bub, Steve, Debra, Julie and Sheri. The love and kindness you gave to everyone you touched will continue to be an inspiration to us all. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550
Wilfred Patrick Lauber, Sr.
1931 - 2005
Wilfred Patrick Lauber, Sr., 73, died March 11 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation. He was born April 1, 1931, at Victoria, the son of Michael and Cecilia A. Quint Lauber. He married
Rossie Addington Lewis Aug. 24, 1979, at Great Bend. She survives. He was a truck driver for Stone Sand Co. and Arkansas Sand Co. He had lived in Great Bend since 1973, moving here from Russell and Victoria. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, earning the rank of private first class. Lauber was a member of St. Fidelis Catholic Church, Victoria. Survivors include two sons, Wilfred Patrick Lauber, Jr., of Osborne, and Larry Lauber of Great Bend; three stepsons, Kenneth Rowe and Charles J. Rowe, both of Great Bend, and William E. Rowe of Otis; a daughter, Angela Marie Lauber of Globe, Ariz.; a sister, Rita Marie Wassinger of Hays; 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Jerry Dean Lauber, and two brothers, Walter and Donald Lauber. A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with the Rev. Don Paden and the Rev. Charles Polifka officiating. Interment will be in St. Fidelis Catholic cemetery, Victoria, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday with military committal rites conducted by a Fort Riley Honor Guard. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the Wilfred Patrick Lauber, Sr., Expense Fund, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Naomi Titsworth
1932 - 2005
Naomi Titsworth, 72, died March 11 at Hutchinson Hospital, Hutchinson. She was born May 10, 1932, at Wellington, Texas, the daughter of Curtis and Mittie Smith Thomas. She married
Edgar Titsworth on Aug. 2, 1947, in Carson City, Nev. He survives. She was a homemaker and had moved to Great Bend from Tracy, Calif., nine months ago. Survivors include two sons, Roy Titsworth and his wife Norma, and William Titsworth and his wife Lori, all of Great Bend; two daughters, Iola Titsworth of Great Bend and Debbie Pereira and husband Carlos of Manteca, Calif.; three sisters, Euleta Halford of Los Angeles, Mary Anastasio of Tracy, Calif., and Lou Barber of Atlanta, Ga.; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Paul Gene Titsworth, and a great-granddaughter, Kayla Marie Titsworth. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with the Rev. Dwight Dozier officiating. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Great Bend. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday and from 9 until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial funds have been established for the Central Kansas Medical Center Foundation and for the Heartland Cancer Center, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Marie Thornbrugh
1911 - 2005
HOISINGTON - Marie Thornbrugh, 93, died March 9 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born July 4, 1911, on a farm near Hoisington, the daughter of Austin Alfred and Mary Etta (Ford) Lowry. She married
Clarence E. Thornbrugh on July 26, 1932, at Larned. He died Nov. 10, 1954. She was a beautician for 64 years and owner of Marie's Beauty Shop, retiring in 1993. She was a lifetime area resident of Hoisington. Thornbrugh was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Una Chapter #119 OES, both of Hoisington. Survivors include three sons, Hal Thornbrugh of Union City, Calif., Ross Thornbrugh of Plano, Texas, and Bruce Thornbrugh of Haven; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Lynn, George, Ray and Roy Lowry. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to service time on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the church, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Merle A. Sloan
1921 - 2005
Merle A. Sloan, 83, died March 10 at Hutchinson Hospital, in Hutchinson. He was born Sept. 26, 1921, at Rozel, the son of Gilbert and Carrie Smeltzer Sloan. A Great Bend resident since 2000, moving from Lewis, he was a retired machinist for Cross Manufacturing. He was of the Christian faith, and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. On June 23, 1944, he married
Betty P. Robbins at Larned. She survives. Other survivors include one son, Larry and wife Mary of Albert; two daughters, Loretta Leith and husband Roger of Rose Hill and Lorena Sloan and companion Marlin Portenier of Great Bend; four grandchildren, Kim McChristian, Jesse Sloan, Jodie Sloan and Jacob Sloan; and two great-grandchildren, Colton and Elizabeth Sloan. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Wayne cemetery with Pastor Bill Stapleton presiding. The casket will remain closed. Friends may sign a register from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Great Bend Senior Center or to KSU Basic Cancer Research in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550
Ahmadullah Ahmadullah
1925 - 2005
Ahmadullah Ahmadullah passed away in Kansas City, Kan., on March 11, 2005. Ahmadullah was born to Hazrat Meer and Khadidja on Oct. 8, 1925, in Paghman, 12 miles north of Kabul, Afghanistan. He married
Shahbubu, daughter of Alam Gul and Shahealama, in 1952 in Paghman, Afghanistan. He attended Kabul University, earning a bachelor's degree in math and science. He taught at the high school and at Kabul University. In the early 1950s, Ahmadullah attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering. Upon returning to Kabul, Afghanistan, he worked for the Department of Mining Explorations at the Ministry of Mines and Industries. Thanks to his organizational and managerial skills, he was assigned to explore new mines and set up new mining operations. He served as the general director of Afghanistan's coal mines. During his years in Afghanistan he also served as governor of two provinces. In the mid-1960s Ahmadullah was appointed by Prime Minister Hashim Maiwandwaal and approved by King Zahir Shah and the Afghan Parliament to serve as minister of Public Works, responsible for the construction and maintenance of Afghanistan's public and government buildings, bridges and highways. Later he was appointed to the post of Minister of Interiors, overseeing the appointment of governors and responsible for the internal security of Afghanistan. After serving in Maiwandwaal's Cabinet, he was involved in private business in construction. In the early 1970s he was appointed by the government to improve and expand the cement industry in central Afghanistan. In 1978, the pro-Soviet Union Communists took power in Afghanistan through a military coup. Ahmadullah and his family were marked for persecution because he had been educated in the United States and because he had serve in the Afghan government under King Zahir Shah. Ahmadullah was forcibly taken from his home in the middle of the night by Communist government secret agents. He was imprisoned, tortured and scheduled to be executed. Thanks to the influence of many other prominent Afghans, Ahmadullah was released from captivity, but he and his family were still marked for elimination. One of his sons was shot through the lungs but survived the attempted assassination. (This son has since graduated from Kansas State University and works in the aviation industry in Wichita.) Ahmadullah and his family had to flee Afghanistan to survive. His American friends helped the family take refuge in the United States. In 1981 he and his family were settled in eastern Ohio. During his time in Ohio, he taught mining law in nearby Wheeling, W.Va. Lee Turner, a prominent attorney, persuaded Ahmadullah to move his family to Great Bend, Kan., where the drier weather was better for Ahmadullah's and Shahbubu's health. While in Kansas Ahmadullah served as technical consultant to Turner's law firm and to Turner Family Farms. He retired in 1999. He and his wife moved to Manhattan, Kan., in 2002. Ahmadullah's lasting contributions to his homeland included explorations of new mines and improvement of the existing mines across the country, the building of the highway networks and improvement of the infrastructure in the country. He was a strong patron of education and built many schools in Afghanistan. He influenced all of his children to earn university degrees. His survivors include his wife, Shahbubu, of the home; one daughter, Torpakai (Pakai) of Ellinwood; five sons, Zia of Manhattan, Shafi of Newton, Sami of Manhattan, Jawid of Overland Park and Yama of Boulder, Colo.; and 14 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Sunday, at the Mid-America Muslim Center in Kansas City.
Matilda M. Kuntz
1916 - 2005
ABILENE - Matilda M. Kuntz, 88, died March 10 at the Village Manor in Abilene. She was born June 15, 1916, at Quinter, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Leiker Herzog. She married
Titus Kuntz on Nov. 27, 1934, at Park. He died Aug. 23, 1975. She was a homemaker and a resident of Abilene since 2001, coming from Great Bend. Mrs. Kuntz was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Community and Altar Society, both of Great Bend, and D. of I. of Park. Survivors include six daughters, Caroline VonFeldt of Council Grove, Sister Nancy Jane of Sharon, Roma Lea Michel of Westminster, Colo., and Shirley Pundsack, Doreen Boor and Maxine Sherman, all of Great Bend; one brother, Ralph Herzog of Hays; four sisters, Josephine Waldman and Ida Marie Kuntz, both of Park, Peg Moliter of Offerle and Delores Fortin of Fort Collins, Colo.; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Herbert Herzog and Leo Herzog, and one sister, Viola Ochs. Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m. today, with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m., both at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Reginald A. Urban officiating. Interment will be in Sisters Resurrection cemetery, Great Bend. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Catholic Community of Great Bend in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
Darlene A. Adams
1941 - 2005
Darlene A. Adams, 63, died Tuesday, March 8, at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born Nov. 18, 1941, at La Crosse, the daughter of Sylvester and Florentine (Urban) Basgall. Mrs. Adams was a four-year Great Bend resident, moving here from Independence. Before living in Independence, she lived in La Crosse. Mrs. Adams was a homemaker. Mrs. Adams attended the House of Faith Church in Hoisington. Mrs. Adams was a member of the Sixty Plus Club, in Great Bend. She married
Robert E. 'Bob' Adams on April 4, 1959, at La Crosse. Survivors include three sons, Robert Adams, Jr., Dwayne Adams and James Adams and his wife, Larissa, all of Great Bend; four brothers, Donald Basgall of Bison, Edwin Basgall of La Crosse, Leslie Basgall of Ransom and Daryl Basgall of Wichita; one sister, Lucretia Giersch of Salina; and one granddaughter, Kaitlin Adams of Great Bend. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Florentine (Urban) Basgall, and by her husband, Robert E. 'Bob' Adams on Aug. 16, 2001. Funeral service will be Saturday, March 12, at 1 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in La Crosse, with Father Charles Mazouch officiating. Church visitation will be Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in La Crosse, with the family receiving friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to Darlene A. Adams Memorial. Funeral arrangements provided by Janousek Funeral Home 719 Pine La Crosse, KS 67548
