M. Doyle Bontrager, 76, Prairie Village, Kan., passed away peacefully on March 3, 2013, at Hickory Pointe Care & Rehab in Oskaloosa.
Visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Doyle was born October 2, 1936, to Simon J. and Clara Elizabeth Schrock Bontrager in South Hutchinson, Kan. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1954. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management in 1959. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1954 until 1962.
Doyle attended St. Paul Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Kan. from 1962-86. and served as a vestry member and treasurer. He later attended St. Michael’s in Prairie Village and Trinity Episcopal in Lawrence. He was an Industrial Engineer for Ford Motor Co. in Claycomo, Mo. in 1959, and also for Bendix Corporation from 1960-64. From 1964 until his retirement in 2003 from American Airlines, he was a management employee for Trans World Airlines.
He was married 20 years to Helen Holmes, and eight years to Ann Holmes Parker, with whom he loved to travel, dance, and enjoy KU alumni events. He is survived by a daughter, Julia Alexis Jacobs, son-in-law Randy Jacobs, granddaughter Rebecca Jacobs, and grandson Justin Jacobs, Tonganoxie; a son, Alex Bontrager, Phoenix, and his daughter Kennedy and son Hugh, Long Beach, N.Y.; two brothers, Bill Bontrager and wife Mary, Des Moines, and Dean Bontrager, Hutchinson; and seven nephews.
Donations in his memory may be made to St. Michael’s Church in Prairie Village or Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Doyle and I worked together at the Village Church Food Pantry and had Saturday morning breakfast together for several years. We had lots of things in common and I really enjoyed the time we spent together. He was so proud of his family, his work in the airline industry and his travels. Even as his health deteriorated, he continued doing his part of the work. I appreciated and enjoyed our time together. Thanks, Doyle!
Doyle and I were classmates in high school. Some of our best times together were at class reunions. Sorry that we can have no more reunions together. It is so sad to see old friends and classmates leave this earth.