Category: Obituaries

Dr. Richard K. Moore, Ph.D.

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Memorial services for Dr. Richard K. Moore, Ph.D. will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church, 215 Clinton Pkwy, followed by a reception. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery. Professor Moore died on November 13, 2012.

Dr. Moore, one of the most noted scientists in his field, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 13, 1923, to Louis D. and Nina M. Moore. He lived in the family home in Kirkwood, through university graduation. His avid interest in ham radio led him to study Electrical Engineering at Washington University where he received his B.S. in 1943.

He worked for RCA in Camden, NJ as a radar engineer, where he met and married Wilma Schallau, also an engineer, in 1944. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served as an electronics and radar officer on the USS Rehoboth in the Pacific. In 1946, on separation from the Navy, he attended graduate school at Washington University, St Louis. His master’s thesis, in which he invented the VLF antenna for submarines, was judged to be of doctoral quality, and he moved to Cornell to complete that work, while also researching tropospheric and ionospheric propagation.

Upon receiving his PhD from Cornell in 1951, he moved his young family to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and worked at Sandia Corp. while lecturing at UNM. In 1955, he became Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department at UNM, remaining until 1962. Offered the Black and Veatch distinguished professorship at KU, he moved to Lawrence. With his research interests in microwave remote sensing, he started the interdisciplinary Remote Sensing Laboratory where he worked until his retirement in 1994, doing seminal work in both theory and experiment for radar returns. He continued to run sponsored projects until 2004, and contributed to the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets until his death. His research interests included microwave remote sensing of atmosphere, ocean, land, ice and planetary surfaces; radar systems, and radio wave propagation.

Professor Moore’s accomplishments include the 1995 Australia Prize (for Science, Australia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize); Remote Sensing Award, Italian Center, 1995; Fellow of the AAAS; Life Fellow of IEEE, Member of the National Academy of Engineering; Irving Youngberg Award in the Applied Sciences, KU, 1989; Louise E. Byrd Graduate Educator Award, KU, 1984; Centennial Medal, IEEE 1984; Distinguished Achievement Award, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, 1982; Outstanding Technical Achievement Award, IEEE Council on Oceanic Engineering, 1978; Alumni Achievement Award, Washington University, 1978. He and his brother were the only brothers ever in the National Academies.

He authored or co-authored 10 books and over 300 journal articles and conference publications.

His professional memberships and activities not mentioned above included the AAUP, American Society of Engineering Education, Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, Antennas and Propagation Society, Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society, Education Society, American Geophysical Union, International Union of Radio Science (URSI), Chairman, International Commission F.

Dr. Moore, in addition to serving his country in the Navy, performed classified research and served on classified government committees in the areas of defense and national intelligence throughout his career, including the CIA’s MEDEA committee and the NRC Advisory Committee on Undersea Warfare.

He was active in the community, regularly attending meetings of the Kiwanis Club, the Endacott Society (KU retirees association), and the Military Officers Association of America. His interest in Amateur Radio continued (W0GYS, now SK). He was an avid traveler, visiting every continent, either for science or personal interest. He was active in First Presbyterian Church, and gave generously to many charities.
He is survived by his sons: John Moore and wife Anne (Scottsdale, AZ), and Daniel Moore and wife Mieko (Las Vegas, NV), and his long time companion Barbara McCorkle. He leaves two grandchildren, Elizabeth Reye (Hillsboro, OR) and Alexander Moore (Iwata, Japan), and great grandchildren Colin and Brigit Reye (Hillsboro, OR).

His love, his decency, his support and advice was so very important to us, and we sorely miss him. He was a true gentleman, beloved not only by his family but his many friends and colleagues.
Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence or to the University of Kansas Endowment Association.

Larry F. Gantenbein

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A Celebration of Life for Larry F. Gantenbein, 74, Eudora, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Eudora United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Michael Tomson-DeGreeff officiating. Mr. Gantenbein died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at Medicalodges Eudora. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the church.

Larry was born Sept. 21, 1938, in Concordia, Kan. He graduated from Minneapolis, Kan. High School. He attended Kansas University and was drafted into the U.S. Army his senior year. The Vietnam War was just starting when he was discharged. He spent many years at Hallmark Cards working for several trucking companies. He retired from Graham Ship by Truck in 2000.

Larry never met a stranger. He saw good in everyone and loved animals. He was an avid KU fan. His biggest love in life was his children and especially his seven grandsons. His face would light up the room when he saw them. They all visited him often and he would laugh at their adventures. He was so proud of their accomplishments, and never missed a game or event they were in, be it basketball, football, soccer, baseball, or swimming.

He married Pat Butler. They later divorced. He then married Loretta Charbonneau Coon. They celebrated 30 years together in Aug. She survives of the home. Also surviving are his children, Vicki Johnson (Marion) of Eudora, David Gantenbein (Rachael) of Valley Center, Kan., and Lisa Ricketts (David) of Lenexa, grandchildren Tyler, Logan, & Connor Hartpence, Matt & Trevor Ricketts, and Boone & Aidan Gantenbein, and brother Harry Gantenbein and his family of Beloit.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Frances White.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Eudora United Methodist Church, or Medicalodges Activity Fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. The family would like to thank Medicalodges Eudora for all their wonderful care to our husband, dad, and grandpa. The love you showed him will always be remembered.

Rosa Bell ‘Rosie’ Cain

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Graveside memorial services for Rosa Bell ‘Rosie’ Cain, 87, Linwood, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City.

Mrs. Cain died Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, at her residence.

She was born Feb. 21, 1925, the daughter of Michael and Margarite Hadl. She graduated from Eudora High School.

Rosie owned and operated Cain Realty for over 40 years. She then managed The Professional Building in downtown Lawrence for many years. She and her husband Ed also owned and operated Himmel’s Rand Christmas Tree Farm in Eudora from 1981-97.

She married Francis Edward ‘Ed’ Cain on Oct. 3, 1942, in Lawrence. He preceded her in death in 2001, as did a daughter, Connie Mason, in 1980, a brother, Glen Hadl, and two sisters, Viola Palmer and Erma Hadl

Survivors include two grandchildren, Michael E. Rockhold Sr., Eudora, and Tina Roach and husband Bob, Austin, Tex.; two sisters, Ruby Ellis and husband Lou, Lawrence, and Alberta Cowell, Simi Valley, Calif.; four great grandchildren, Michael Rockhold Jr., Paige Rockhold, Chris Roach, and Sarah Cape; and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Operation Wildlife, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

John E. Winsor

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October 16th, 1940 – November 12, 2012

He was born on October 16th, 1940 and took one last peaceful ride into the sunset this past Monday, November 12, 2012 at 1:22pm. John Edward Winsor was born in Easton, Kansas and was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Rosa Winsor and a half-brother, Tommy Winsor. (Frank was a railroad man turned butcher and Rosa just had the kindest heart, loved everyone, and best of all, cooked with butter.)

John is survived by his wife of 33 years, Phyllis (Welsh) Winsor of Linwood, Kansas, who he loved so, “Muchly”; their daughter Alyssa Winsor of Tonganoxie; his first wife Sharon Winsor of Lawrence, Kansas, and their children, Russell Winsor (with wife Terri) of McKinney, Texas, Dawn Miller (with husband Gary) of Gardner, Kansas, Valerie Winsor of Topeka, Kansas, Tonya Barnes (with husband Robert) of Linwood, Kansas, and Leith Winsor (with wife Veronica) of Lawrence, Kansas. John is also survived by a brother, Francis (Fritzi) Winsor of Winchester, Kansas, and five sisters, Rosemary Abel of Winchester, Kansas, Margaret Bardroff of Easton, Kansas, Helen Craig of Corpus Christie, Texas, Barbara Herzog of Lansing, Kansas, and Theresa Ollinger of Kansas City, Kansas. He was also blessed with seventeen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren with two more on the way; not to mention all the nieces, nephews, cousins and friends all too numerous to mention.

Rosary and Visitation will be on Thursday, November 15th, 6:00pm-8:00pm at Rumsey – Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, Kansas with the funeral service on Friday, November 16th, at 2:00pm at St. John’s Catholic Church, also of Lawrence and internment at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery in Easton, Kansas.

John graduated high school from Easton High School, way back when it was still a small brick building on the edge of town. He played football, baseball, basketball and track (they called him “The Tank” back then). He wore a leather jacket, cuffed jeans, and put grease in his hair, way before it was cool. He drank Coors gold, smoked cigarettes and worked at his father’s locker plant.

After high school John worked for and retired from Hallmark Cards in the Leavenworth plant first, and then the Lawrence facility. John wasn’t one for idle sentiment, and he didn’t write the words, but he spent 37 years making sure the cards were cut, scrapped, printed, embossed, flittered, flocked, foiled, packaged, warehoused and shipped; all so most of the world could send “ the very best” to those they “cared about” the most.

Outside of work, John’s passions were his family, horses, flying, and occasionally Wild Turkey and Seven. He raised six children and a whole bunch of quarter-horses (Whiskey was his favorite and also the meanest). John was also a pilot and flew Cessna planes for fun. (He even got Rosa up there, once). But, John was riding highest, sitting in a saddle on horseback. Occasionally, he wore a six-shooter, and a bull whip, just in case( he once killed a black snake with the whip and the snake was the longer of the two; but most of the time just scared the crap out of the kids, popping the whip).

John was a school board president in Easton and was in the Lions Club in both Easton and Linwood; he helped in United Way, was a Big Brother, and in Junior Achievement. He was on the Water Board, RWD. #10(which was worse than it sounds) and was proud to be one of the founding volunteers at Reno Township Fire Department (this was after his heart-attack). He used to shoot trap, hunt coyote, and bowled a few frames. He managed hundreds of people, even though, some would always complain.

There is not too much more to say, John lived a simple Kansas life. Providing for his family in the good times and through strife. He was a friend, a husband, a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother and son. He asked little from others but offered up a ton. We know that John’s in heaven now, with our Lord God’s only Son. Watching over all of us, and riding “Whiskey in the Sun”!

John didn’t much care for flowers; he just didn’t see the need. So please in lieu of, make donations to: The American Diabetes Associations, The American Heart Association, St. John’s Catholic Church, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Raymond E. “Ray” Polk

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Memorial services for Raymond E. “Ray” Polk, 78, Lawrence, will be at 11am Friday. Nov. 16, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Tom Brady officiating. Mr. Polk died Monday, November 12, 2012 at Brandon Woods at Alvamar. He was born June 9, 1934 in Douglas, KS. the son of Alfred M. and Dorothy Goodwin Polk.

Mr. Polk went to work for Standard Oil Company in 1955 and retired from Polk Oil Company in 1990. He was a member of the First Christian Church, Douglas, KS.

He married Shirley Lydick of Augusta, on April 20, 1954. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include sons Mike Polk and his companion Nancy Borer, Greg Polk all of Lawrence, daughter, Sara Joseph and her husband Marc of Olathe, sister Freda Gillum of Mt. Home, AR, sister-in-law Tomella Polk of Douglas, grandchildren, Jackie Hout and husband Jeff, Josie Polk, Emma Joseph and great-grandson Jase Hout.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Betty Jane Hanson

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Funeral services for Betty Jane Hanson, 91, Lawrence, will be at 1:30 pm Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church. Betty died Saturday, November 10, 2012, at her home.

She was born June, 7, 1921 in Arnold, NE. the daughter of Jerold Lewis and Lucile A. Morris Branson.

She graduated from Lexington High school in 1940 and graduated from Nursing School in Detroit in 1944. Mrs. Hanson served in the US army during WWII as a nurse, being commissioned a second Lieutenant. She was awarded the Bronze Battle Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and Bronze Victory Medal. She was employed by Lawrence Memorial Hospital. After she retired, she worked as a Volunteer for the Hospital. As a Red Cross Nurse, she volunteered to work for the mobile blood bank. Also she helped the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen, known as L.I.N.K, providing meals for those in need.

She married H. J. “Jack” Hanson Jr. on June 29, 1947 in Lexington, NE. They moved to Lawrence Kansas in 1968. He preceded her in death on Nov. 3, 1984.

Survivors include a son, Jerold Lewis Hanson, Lawrence; daughter, Sharon Lea Ward and Husband, Steve, Olathe; brother, Jack V. Branson, Lakewood, CO; and 2 grandchildren, Adam and Alison Ward.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, and a brother Lewis Branson.

Family will receive friends from 12:30 pm to service time at the church.

She will lay in state from noon to 8 p.m. Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials to Lawrence Humane Society, or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society sent in care of the funeral home.

Bobby Anderson Williams

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A Celebration of Life service for Bobby Anderson Williams, 86, Lawrence, will be at 3 pm Sunday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dr. Tom Brady officiating.
Mr. Williams died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

He was born Oct. 31, 1926, in Memphis, Tenn., the son of Paul Jones and Celia Eva Suratt Williams. He graduated from Messick High School in Memphis, where he was an all-state golfer and basketball guard, and later graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Bobby served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a First Lt. Co-Commander. After graduating from college, he was called back into the Army during the Korean Conflict and was sent to Alaska. He worked for DuPont in Tecumseh as a mechanical engineer for many years. He excelled in golf, and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He married Virginia L. Pittman on Mar. 21, 1951, in Memphis. She survives of the home. Other survivors include four children, Betsy Ann Russell and husband Randy, Ann Arbor, Mich., Janice Lynn Allet and Vickie Lee Hester, Palm Springs, Calif., and Mark Anderson Williams, San Diego; three grandchildren, Jeremy and Stephanie Russell, and Marine SSgt. Cody Smith; two great grandchildren; a brother, Jack E. Williams, Germantown, Tenn., and five nieces He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul J. Williams.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. until service time on Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Douglas County Hospice, or First United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Dr. James S. Ralston

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Funeral services for Dr. James S. Ralston will be held at 11:00 a.m. , Saturday, November 17, 2012, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery. Dr. Ralston died on November 7, 2012, at Pioneer Ridge.

He was born in Columbia, Missouri, on December 18, 1930, to Lawrence T. and Minnie S. Ralston. In 1944 the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Southwest High School in 1948. He earned an Associate Degree from Kansas City, Kansas, Junior College in 1950 and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Kansas in 1952. He earned a Master’s degree in Music Education in 1958 and a Ph.D. in Music Education in 1973, both from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Ralston served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956 and remained in the Naval Reserve program, retiring as a Commander, USNR-R in 1974. He taught choral music at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas, from 1956 to 1962. Ralston joined the faculty of the University of Kansas in 1962 as a visiting lecturer in choral music. The following semester he was a graduate assistant in the School of Education. He was appointed assistant professor in choral music in 1963 and became a full professor in 1978. He retired from KU in 1994.

Professor Ralston also served as Chair of the Department of Ensembles at KU from 1976 to 1983; from 1983 to 1994, he was Director of the Choral Division. He was also associated with the Midwestern Music camp beginning in 1964. During his tenure at KU, Dr. Ralston worked with eminent choral directors such as Donald Swarthout, Clayton Krehbiel, and Robert Shaw. His choirs also performed with the Kansas City Philharmonic, the Kansas City Symphony, and the Wichita Symphony. They also performed for the conventions of Kansas Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, and American Choral Directors Association.

Among the major works for chorus and orchestra that Professor Ralston conducted during his tenure are the following: J.S. Bach, Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion; Beethoven, Missa Solemnis; Berlioz, Requiem; Bernstein, Chichester Psalms; Brahms, German Requiem; Britten, War Requiem; Handel, The Messiah, Solomon, and Dixit Dominus; Haydn, Creation; Mendelssohn, Elijah; Mozart, Grand Mass in C Minor and Requiem; Orff, Carmina Burana; Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms; and Verdi, Four Sacred Songs (for Michael Palmer); and Mahler, Eighth Symphony (for William McGlaughlin).

During his career, Ralston was actively involved in the preparation and performance of many new works, mostly in conjunction with the Symposium of Contemporary Music at the University of Kansas. Included among the many composers were Lukas Foss, Norman Dello Joio, Vincent Persichetti, Gunther Schuller, and Libby Larsen.

In 1970 Dr. Ralston initiated a master’s degree program in choral conducting at KU, and in 1973 he began the doctoral degree program in choral conducting. Under his supervision, more than thirty students completed graduate degrees in choral conducting from the University of Kansas.

In nearly forty years of service to music and music education in the state, he conducted over fifty concerts of major choral works at KU, more than thirty Vespers performances, and taught choral music to students numbering in the thousands. In 1997 he was inducted into the Kansas Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

Dr. Ralston was a member of the Monday Rotary Club and served as their song leader for forty-six years. Rotary honored him as a Paul Harris Fellow. From 1956-1962 he directed the Welborn Community Church Choir in Kansas City, Kansas; in the 1960’s he was the choir director at Plymouth Congregational Church; from 1973-2008 he was the choral director for Trinity Episcopal Church. Other honors include the Federated Music Club’s 1999 Kansas Musical Family of the Year Award and the 2003 Phoenix Award in Musical Arts.

He married Susan Frederick on May 17, 1975, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence. He is survived by his wife Susan of 37 years as well as four daughters: Julie Hodges and husband David, Keizer, Oregon; Joi Monnington and husband Mark, Kansas City, Kansas; Meghan Adams and husband Nick, Overland Park, Kansas; and Natalie Wilemon and husband Zane, Austin, Texas. Dr. Ralston also leaves thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother Robert T. Ralston and a sister Jean Barns.

Memorials may be made in his name to Trinity Episcopal Church and to KU Endowment for a graduate scholarship in choral conducting. Contact KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, Ks. 66044 A memorial concert at KU will take place in the spring.

Visitation will be on Friday, November 16, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Wilma M. Young

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Wilma Ireland Young, 79, died November 6, 2012 , with her family by her side in Lawrence, Kansas. Wilma was born June 16, 1933 in Lawrence, KS to Eugene Thomas Ireland and Irma Elizabeth Hillman.

Wilma worked at Campbell Soup Company and Stillwell Cannery for several years. Her interests included family, crocheting, and cooking. Wilma enjoyed spending time with her family and truly cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Wilma was married to Delbert Smith, they later divorced and she married Joe Young.
Wilma is survived by her children, Sherry Adams, Rosemary Palacios, Margaret Van Dyke, Billy Joe Young, David Young, her sister, Shirley Ramsey; her niece and primary caregiver of the last several years, Carla Butler; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her sons Larry Dean Kelly, Michael Young, and Pam Deihl; both of her parents and stepfather, William (Okie) Eagleton; two brothers, Billy Eugene Ireland and Clifford Marion Ireland.

Friends and family are invited to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, KS on Sunday, November 11, 2012 from noon – 8pm to say their final farewells. Graveside services will be Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:00am at Oak Hill cemetery in Lawrence Kansas, Pastor Scott Berry will be officiating the service.

Robert “Bob” Harold Woods

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A memorial service for Robert “Bob” Harold Woods, 65, of Wellsville, will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 12, 2012, at Family Worship Center, 601 Locust in Wellsville.

Mr. Woods died Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa after fighting over a year with pancreatic cancer.

He was born August 22, 1947, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Hubert Eugene and Opal May Busey Woods.

Bob enjoyed fishing, watching western movies, playing cards, and going to the casino.

He and his wife Susan Ann Tarwater Woods have enjoyed 42 years together. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Matthew Eugene James Woods, of Wellsville; three daughters, Sarah Lynn Woods, of Wellsville, Cora Beth Taylor and husband Greg, and Mary Grace Woods, all of Ottawa; three brothers, Charles Woods and wife Betty, of Liberty, Missouri, Jimmy Woods, of Overland Park, Kansas, Gary Woods and wife Joann, of Lansing, Kansas; and a sister, Opal Hockman, of Tonganoxie, Kansas; four grandchildren, Adam Taylor, Ava Mae Taylor, Johnnie Woods, and Isabella Woods.