Author: RumseyYost

Alan C. Fisher

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Funeral services with full military honors for Alan C. Fisher, 96, Lawrence, will be at 10 am Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Tom Brady officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Fisher died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at his home, surrounded by family.

He was born May 15, 1922, in Globe, the son of Harold Clark and Lora Ester Albright Fisher. He attended Brubaker, Lone Star, and India rural grade schools, and graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1940. He later graduated from Lawrence Business College in 1941 and from the University of Kansas in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in Business.

Alan was active in the Army ROTC at the University of Kansas, and later served his country in the United States Army, serving in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He worked briefly for the American Legion Department Headquarters in Topeka before beginning a 45 year career with the Reuter Organ Company, where he held the positions of service & installation manager and purchasing & personnel manager. He retired in 1994. He was very active in Dorsey-Liberty Post 14 of the American Legion, where he held various positions of leadership and worked with many of their activities – the Legion baseball team, Boy’s State, Cadet Law, pancake feed, the Avenue of Flags, and providing military funeral honors. He was bestowed the Life Membership by the Post. He also researched and wrote a history of the Post from its founding in 1919 to 2002, which can be found at the Post and the Lawrence Public Library. He was named the Substantial Citizen by the Kiwanis Club in 1999 and was voted into the Lawrence High School Hall of Fame in 2015. Alan was instrumental in getting the name ‘Liberty Memorial’ attached to Central Middle School, and was a frequent volunteer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Alan married June Rose Burton on Mar. 9, 1951, in Lawrence. She survives of the home. Other survivors include four sons, Michael Fisher, Eudora, Kevin Fisher, Lawrence, Brian Fisher and wife Rita, Eudora, and Kent Fisher and wife Chris, Lawrence; five grandchildren, Jay, Matt, Ryan, Kaitlyn, and Noah; and two great grandchildren, Blake and Brooklyn. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Ross Fisher, and a sister, Margarett Starkey.

Friends may call from 9 am to 8 pm Tuesday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive them from 6 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions are suggested to Dorsey-Liberty Post 14 American Legion youth programs, or Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com

Carol Richardson

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A visitation for Carol Richardson, 83, Lawrence, will be held Sunday from 6 to 8 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Private burial will be at a later date. Carol passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Sept. 19, 1935, in Leavenworth.

She worked at Hallmark Cards for 38 years as their mail courier.

Carol was married to Jack Richardson who passed in 1986. Later in life Frank Sterba became her longtime companion.

Surviving children include Yvonne Daniels, Overland Park, and Cindy Cook, Lawrence. Carol’s other children, Thomas McCombs and Valerie Lynn preceded her in death. Carol had many grandchildren and three great grandchildren that she adored.

Georgia M. Owens

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Funeral services for Georgia M. Owens, 96, Gardner, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Owens died Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at the Olathe Hospice House.

She was born April 30, 1922, in Paola, Kansas, the daughter of Charlie and Maggie (Caylor) Borovicka.

Mrs. Owens worked at King Radio in Lawrence. She enjoyed sewing, reading, the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, as well as the Kansas Jayhawks. Mrs. Owens was also a lifetime member of the VFW Post 852 Ladies Auxiliary.

She married Johnnie Barrett, he died in 1944. She married John Stultz, he died in 1972. She married Mike Owens, he died in 1984.

Survivors include a daughter, Gerry Richardson of Gardner; a sister, Kate Stokes of Eldorado, KS; grandsons, Lew Richardson (Tammy Weimers) of Gardner, Greg Richardson (Elvina) of St. Paul, MN; 6 great grandchildren; and 6 great great grandchildren.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the VFW Post 852 Ladies Auxiliary, sent in care of the funeral home.

Walter Morgan Wondrack

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Funeral services for Walter Morgan Wondrack, 90, Lawrence, will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 7, 2019, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

Mr. Wondrack died Saturday, December 29, 2018, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar. He was born August 8, 1928, in Washington D.C., the son of Walter John and Nina M. (White) Wondrack. He attended D.C. public schools and graduated from Eastern High School in 1946.

He enlisted in the Army and served in the First Calvary Division in Tokyo, during the early days of the occupation of Japan. He was discharged as a Sergeant and returned to D.C. and worked as a cartographic draftsman at the Coast and Geodetic Survey before enrolling at the University of Maryland, College Park in 1948 under the WWII G.I. Bill. Graduated in 1953 with a B.S. in Industrial Education and was named a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. Offered and accepted regular (career) Air Force commission. He was trained as a B-29 radar bombardier. After deactivation of the B-29 fleet, he served as a navigator in the B-26 reconnaissance squadron in Japan and flew a number of classified missions from a base in Korea. He was assigned as commander of USAF Foreign Language Liaison Detachment at Ft. Meyer, VA providing administrative support for Air Force personnel attending various language schools under contracts in the D.C. area. He entered the University of Oklahoma, Norman graduate school under program of the Air Force Institute of Technology. He received a MBA with honors in 1968 and elected to Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Business Honorary.

He flew 75 combat missions over Vietnam in EB-66 Electronic Warfare Aircraft. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. Assigned to a tactical wing in South Carolina, where he was a Training Squadron Commander and Wing Training Officer, and taught evening classes in business as a faculty member of Golden Gate University’s Extension Program for civilian and military personnel in the area. He retired after 33 years of military service, following five years as Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies of the Air Force ROTC at the University of Kansas, Lawrence with the rank of Colonel in 1979.

Post retirement positions included consulting work with a Lawrence based management consulting firm, Executive Secretary of the South Carolina Independent School Association based in Columbia, South Carolina, and Hearing Officer for the State of Kansas Hearing Appeals from property owners in Douglas, Leavenworth, and Johnson Counties.

He married Dorothy C. Jones of Staunton, VA in Washington D.C. on April 25, 1959. She passed away on September 11, 2012, after 53 years of marriage.

Marjorie Spilman; Brandywine, MD, the oldest of three younger sisters died in 2017.

Survivors include two sisters, Carol Wyman, Holland Point, MD, Miriam Enis, Delray Beach, FL. Four sons, Scott and wife Sheila, Walter and wife Michele, Christopher and partner Steve Hoyt, Jared and wife Julie. Grandchildren, Jordan Wondrack, Dallas, TX, Tyler Wondrack, Prairie Village, KS, Sean and Aidan Wondrack, and Sarah Conley all of Lawrence.

Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.  A visitation with the family will be 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday.

Ellsworth Albert Terry Jr.

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Memorial services for Ellsworth Albert Terry Jr, 71, Lawrence, will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 12 at Calvary Church of God in Christ.

Mr. Terry died December 30, 2018, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

He was born May 14, 1947, in Lawrence, the son of Ellsworth Albert Terry Sr and Josie Mae Henson Terry.

Mr. Terry worked at a chef. He enjoyed cooking, watching sports, attending LA Lakers basketball games, horse racing, and reminiscing with the “Way Back Wednesday” group. He was a member of the Calvary Church of God in Christ.

He is survived by many family and friends.

Sharon S. Horton

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Services for Sharon S. Horton, 76, rural Lawrence, will be announced in the spring by Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory. Sharon died Friday, December 28, 2018, at the home of her daughter.

She was born October 14, 1942, in Salina, the daughter of Harold J. and Emily M. Eklund Cox.

She had worked at Stokely-Van Camp and as a caregiver for Home Instead Senior Care.

Survivors include two daughters, Julie Michael (Chris Russell)  and Cynthia Cheek (Randy).

Nancy G. Wilk

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Graveside service for Nancy G. Wilk, 67, Lawrence, will be 2pm Monday, at Memorial Park Cemetery. She died Wednesday December 26, 2018, at LMH Health. She was born April 28, 1951 in Lawrence, the daughter of Kenneth and Florence Kramer Campbell.

Nancy had worked at KU and for the Salvation Army for several years.

She married Thomas S.  Wilk on September 1, 1974. He survives of the home.

Other survives include her mother, children Matt Galloway, Anita Galloway-Todd, Tisha Wilk-McEvoy, and Stephanie Wilk, step-son James Wilk, brothers Ralph, Keith, Gary, Randy, Scott, Bryce Campbell, 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call Sunday from noon to 4pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Loretta Ann James

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Graveside services for Loretta Ann James, 70, Lawrence, will be 11 am, Monday, December 31, 2018, at Maple Grove Cemetery. A visitation will be from 10-10:45, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

She died December 26, 2018, at LMH Health.

Loretta was born November 24, 1948, in Lawrence, KS, the daughter of Fred and Pauline Calvert Foster.

She graduated from Lawrence High School and went on to get her Degree in Business. Loretta Volunteered at Penn House and was a Bartender at Congo Bar.

She married Jim Mooney in 1968 in Lawrence, KS, he preceded her in death. She later married Dale James, he preceded her in death.

Survivors include her children, Gary Foster, Mike Foster, Bonita Vonbargen, all of Lawrence; ten grandchildren, Erica Kellerman, Ashley Foster, Brian Keeten, Holly Coffey, Edwin Vonbargen, Chelsey Foster, Michaela Foster, Faith Foster, Robby Foster and Chad Hall; four great grandchildren, Hudson, Gage, Dixie and Dakohta; brother Jimmy Foster; sister Eunice Lee.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim, husband Dale, Brothers Darrell and Dale Foster.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Arline J. Seely-Bensch

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Memorial services for Arline J. Seely-Bensch, 82, Lawrence, will be 10 am, Saturday, December 29, 2018, at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence.

She died Tuesday, December 25, 2018, at her home.

Arline was born February 1, 1936, in Wichita, KS, the daughter of Dale Miller Six and Evelyn Elizabeth Fisher Six. She graduated from Wichita North High School in 1953, received her bachelor’s degree from Friends University, and later attended the University of Kansas receiving her Master’s Degree in Education in 1986.

A dedicated and creative teacher, Arline taught elementary school in Wichita, St. Louis, Meade (KS), Perry-Lecompton (Williamstown, Grantville), and Eudora. She also served as a Title I reading specialist and a tutor. An avid reader, Arline volunteered for the University of Kansas Audio-Reader Network, a reading service for the blind and visually impaired, for more than 30 years and notably recorded all of the Harry Potter books.

Arline was active in the Methodist and United Methodist Church throughout her life and was involved with starting the Methodist Urban Ministry in Wichita, now known as United Methodist Open Door. In Lawrence, she was an active member of First United Methodist Church and worked with Reconciling Hearts and Justice Ministries. During the 1960s, Arline was active in the civil rights movement and was a lifelong advocate of equal rights and social justice for all. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed art, nature, travel, science fiction and films.

Arline was blessed to have had two wonderful husbands. She married Gene Stewart Seely on April 6, 1955 in Wichita; he preceded her in death in 1995. After reconnecting at their 45th high school class reunion in 1998, Arline married Larry Bensch on October 25, 2003 in Baldwin City; he survives of the home.

Other survivors include son David Seely (Debra) of Wichita, daughters Diana Seely Frederick (Joel) of Lawrence and Doreen Seely-Francis (Jay Francis) of Topeka; grandchildren Michael Seely (Michael Patch), Elise Crain (Nicholas), Matthew Seely, Amanda Frederick, Josh Frederick, and Anikka Francis, and great-grandson Aydon Crain. Additional survivors include stepchildren Cheryl Fornshell (Bob), Alan Bensch (Trish Cobb), David Bensch (Laura Clendenin), Lori Murphy (Pat), and step-granddaughter Ariana Bensch. She is also survived by brother-in-law Arthur Seely and sister-in-law Calvalene Seely, nephew Dean Seely (Debi), nieces Sharon Seely Novo and Kimberly Seely Butler all of Alabama, and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Daniel Six, husband Gene Seely, and great-granddaughter Piper Jean Crain.

A visitation will take place from 7-8pm Friday, December 28, 2018, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence First United Methodist Church (FUMC), Audio-Reader, and Douglas County CASA, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street Lawrence, KS 66044.

Online condolences may be made at rumsey-yost.com

Barbara Mary (Cadieux) Devitt

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Barbara Mary (Cadieux) Devitt died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 89 on December 24, 2018. She was born in Jamestown, North Dakota, on December 5, 1929, to Kenneth Bradford and Amy Eugenia (Simmons) Cadieux. She was the youngest girl of 11 children.

After attending one year of college in North Dakota, Barbara married Clayton Francis Devitt on August 27, 1949, and began their travels together. They raised four children and moved to several different states, settling for many years in one of her favorite towns, Fort Collins, Colorado, where they spent weekends and vacations camping in the mountains. After all four children were in school, Barbara returned to school herself and completed her degree at Colorado State University. After a move to the Kansas City area, she completed a Master’s degree in English, writing her thesis on John Milton’s Samson Agonistes, though Walt Whitman was the poet whose well-worn collection was always on her shelf. Barbara taught some college courses but spent most of her career teaching high school English at Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kansas. She was as adventurous as a teacher as she was in the rest of her life. After another move for Clay’s work to Dallas, Texas, and then Atlanta, Georgia, Barbara retired.

When Clay retired, they moved to another well-loved mountain town, Asheville, North Carolina, where Barbara began her life as an artist, taking painting classes and even displaying her work at a local studio, as well as enjoying hikes in the surrounding mountains, the spiritual scene around Asheville, two cats, many good friends, and time with her son Brad. After Clay’s death in 2005, Barbara moved to be near her daughters—in 2006 to Kansas City, Missouri, and in 2010 to Lawrence, Kansas.

In addition to her husband of 56 years, Barbara was preceded in death by her son David John Devitt in 2013 and one grandchild, Jenny Harris.

She is survived by David’s children Jason Devitt, Josh Devitt, and Marissa Costello; by her daughter Nola Devitt of Kansas City, Missouri, and her children Michael Hess of Dallas, Texas, Sara Paine and grandson-in-law Iain of New Canaan, Connecticut, Rebecca Schnoebelen and grandson-in-law Luke of Kansas City, and Diana Hess of Kansas City; by her daughter Amy Joanne Devitt and son-in-law James Hartman of Lawrence, Kansas; and by her son Bradley Joseph Devitt of Asheville, North Carolina. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Julia, Spencer, and Lucy Paine and Claire and Ella Schnoebelen.

One of eleven siblings, Barbara is survived by her sister Pat and brothers Bob and Dick, her Cadieux and Devitt in-laws, and many loving nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 15, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. The family will receive friends after the service.

The family suggests donations in Barbara’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, sent in care of the funeral home or directly at alz.org.

Throughout her life, Barbara loved the outdoors, art, family, and friends, and kept her tough and adventurous spirit even through difficulties. She will be deeply missed by her family and many loving caregivers, who appreciated her sweetness, spunk, and bright smile.