Obituaries
Virginia A. Bohrer
TOPEKA — Virginia A. Bohrer, 94, a former resident of Parsons and Overland Park, died at 10:02 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2013, at Aldersgate Village in Topeka. She was born on July 9, 1918, in Parsons to Will and Emma Belle (Reeves) King. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1936 and from Parsons Junior College in 1938. She married Charles D. Bohrer, also a Parsons native, at Camp A.P. Hill, Va., on Oct. 6, 1942. They lived in Parsons for a ...
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John L. Miller
John L. Miller, 74, of Noble, Okla., died on Monday, March 4, 2013, at Norman Specialty Hospital. He worked as a greeter at Wal-Mart in Parsons. There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday at Watson Memorial Church of God in Christ, 2215 Appleton.
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Marvin Dale Lynam
MARSHFIELD, Mo. — Marvin Dale Lynam, 90, of Marshfield, Mo., formerly of Parsons, died at 7:20 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2013, at Webco Manor in Marshfield. He was born on Oct. 8, 1922, in Caldwell to Leslie Earl and Emma (Moore) Lynam. He was the fourth of nine children. On Aug. 12, 1943, he married Mildred Louise Tracy in Independence. She preceded him in death on Aug. 16, 1962. Marvin served in the Army Air Corp as a gunner on a B-17 Bomber, s...
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Ralph Henry Spear
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Ralph Henry Spear, 76, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., died on Friday, March 22, 2013.  He was born on July 25, 1936, to Thelma (Taylor) and Alfred Spear, the second of five children, and grew up in Parsons. In 1959, he married Marjean  Basore of Wichita, and they raised their family in Parsons and Lee’s Summit, Mo. She preceded him in death. Survivors include a daughter, Tracey Casey (Lee) of Isle of Wight County, Va.; a son, Deric ...
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Virginia A. (King) Bohrer
Virginia A. (King) Bohrer, 94, a former Parsons resident, died at 10:02 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2013, at Aldersgate Village in Topeka. She was the widow of Charles D. Bohrer, who preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 1993. The service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The funeral home will announce complete obituary details later.
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Vanonda P. Baker
CAMANO ISLAND, Wash. — Vanonda P. Baker, 98, of Camano Island, Wash., formerly of Pittsburg, died on March 18, 2013, at Crestview Adult Family Care Center in Camano Island. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland Baker. The graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Edna Elm Grove Cemetery under the direction of Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Vanonda P. Baker
CAMANO ISLAND, Wash. — Vanonda P. Baker, 98, of Camano Island, Wash., formerly of Pittsburg, died on March 18, 2013, at Crestview Adult Family Care Center in Camano Island. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland Baker. The graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Edna Elm Grove Cemetery under the direction of Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Melba L. Hoss
TOPEKA — Melba L. Hoss, 65, of Topeka died on Monday, March 18, 2013, at Midland Hospice House. She was born on Sept. 23, 1947, in Oswego to Cecil and Mabel Winters Gillespie. She attended Pittsburg State University and graduated from Washburn University. On July 22, 1967, she married Terry Hoss. They enjoyed more than 45 years together. He survives. She was an examiner for 22 years with SRS and retired in 2010. Melba, KAØBAT, was active in m...
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The Rev. Don V. Bumgarner
HUNTSVILLE, Ark. — The Rev. Don V. Bumgarner, 94, of Huntsville, Ark., died on Friday, March 15, 2013, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born Feb. 24, 1919, in Corwin to Frank and D. Mary (Pasley) Bumgarner. He graduated from Attica High School in 1937 and received a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in music from Bethel College in North Newton in 1942. He attended United Theological (Bonebrake) Semin...
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Elmer E. ‘Doc’ Metcalf
SUN LAKES, Ariz. — Elmer Eugene “Doc" Metcalf, 80, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., formerly of Parsons, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2013, at his home. Gene was born on Dec. 15, 1932, in Parsons. He attended Catholic school and graduated from Parsons High School. He later moved to Kansas City and graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College. He served as a chiropractor in Ulysses, WaKeeney, Fort Scott and Wichita. Gene also worked in Las Vegas in s...
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Addie ‘Lee’ Trimble
CHETOPA — Addie “Lee” Trimble, 98, of Chetopa died on Sunday, March 10, 2013, at The Meadows of Orange nursing home in Orange, Texas. Affectionately called “Boopee,” she enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing and quilting. Survivors include two children, Rodney Trimble of Chetopa and Myra Trimble Miller of Orange, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Plans for a service are pending. Claire Brothers Fun...
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Jerry A. Dixon Sr.
Jerry A. Dixon Sr., 66, of Parsons was found at his home on Sunday afternoon. He was in his usual health, and his death was unexpected. He was born on July 7, 1946, at Parsons to Raymond and Ruth (Tunget) Dixon. He grew up at Parsons and attended Service Valley and Labette County schools. He graduated from Labette County High School in 1964. He worked for the city of Parsons in the street department. He later worked as a patrolman at Lake Pars...
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William N. ‘Bill’ Taylor
William N. “Bill” Taylor, 91, died at 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2013, at the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons on his birthday. He was born on March 18, 1922, on a farm near Harrisburg, Pa., to Mr. and Mrs. William N. Taylor Sr. He grew up there and graduated from high school. He worked in the steel mills but soon joined the U.S. Navy, serving 41 months in Hawaii and the Solomon Islands. Then he joined the U.S. Air Force and was a B-52 mechanic...
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Danny L. Harris
Danny L. Harris, 50, of Parsons died at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, March 17, 2013, at Elmhaven East nursing home in Parsons. He was born on Sept. 28, 1962, in Arlington, Texas, to Elbert L. and Lucinda M. (Wort) Harris. At the age of 5, he moved with his family to Parsons, where he grew up and attended Meadow View Grade School and was a graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont. Following high school, he attended Spartan College of Aeronautics...
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Jerry A. Dixon Sr.
Jerry A. Dixon Sr., 66, of Parsons was found at his home on Sunday afternoon. He was in his usual health, and his death was unexpected. He was born on July 7, 1946, at Parsons to Raymond and Ruth (Tunget) Dixon. He grew up at Parsons and attended Service Valley and Labette County schools. He graduated from Labette County High School in 1964. He worked for the city of Parsons in the street department. He later worked as a patrolman at Lake Pars...
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Roberta Wilson
WICHITA — Roberta Wilson, 72, of Wichita, formerly of Parsons, died at 4:16 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2013, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Center at Via Christi – St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She is survived by her husband, Albert Wilson, of the home. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Gail (Adamson) Sims
SAN LUIS OBISBO, Calif. — Gail (Adamson) Sims died on Saturday, March 9, 2013, in San Luis Obisbo, Calif. She was born in 1920 in Labette County to Truby and Helen (Gail) Adamson. She was raised on the family farm west of Valeda. She attended rural McKennon Grade School and graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1938.  Survivors include two sons, Michael Sims and Gary Sims; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two ...
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H. Richard Webb
CHANUTE — H. Richard Webb, 78, of Chanute died on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at his home. He was born on Dec. 20, 1934, in Blue Eye, Mo., to Kenneth E. Webb and J. Lucille (VanWinkle) Webb. He graduated from Stark High School in 1952. He married Frances A. McGinty on April 2, 1961, in Chanute. Richard was an accomplished meat market manager, having worked for Self Service Bauer’s Market, Rooster’s Thriftway and Ron’s IGA in Parsons. Most impor...
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Shirley J. Harding
ERIE — Shirley J. Harding, 92, of Erie died Friday, March 15, 2013, at her home. She had been in her usual health and death was not expected. She was born on Aug. 18, 1920, in Huron, S.D., to Cecil and Hattie (Marks) Crabb. At the age of 13, her family moved to Kansas, where she attended school and was a 1938 graduate of Grant Township High School in Stark. Through the years, she worked at Aeroduct in Chanute, Bush Hog in Galesburg, Swift and ...
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Joe Ryan
Joe Ryan, 72, of Parsons died at 3:45 a.m. Thursday, March 14, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He was born on July 20, 1940, in Vinita, Okla., to Martin Albert Ryan Sr. and Bessie E. (Fuller) Ryan. He was a 1958 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont and earned an associate’s degree from Parsons Junior College. He served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964. He owned and operated Joe’s Club in Parsons for several ...
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