George Kovaciny, 87, a resident of Parsons Presbyterian Manor, died there at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009.

He was born Feb. 5, 1922, at Stafford Springs, Conn., to Stefan and Katarina (Michalek) Kovaciny. He attended schools in the Stafford Springs area and then served in the United States Army during World War II, attaining the rank of technical sergeant, fourth grade.

Following the war, after obtaining his GED by exam, he attended Coffeyville Junior College at Coffeyville, Kansas State University at Manhattan and the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Okla., where he earned a bachelor's degree in architecture and was later licensed to practice architecture in Oklahoma and Missouri.

After completing his college education, he was employed at Altus, Okla., Moore, Okla., Oklahoma City, Okla., and at St. Louis, from which he retired in 1987. After retiring he moved to Parsons.

Mr. Kovaciny was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Parsons, where he was an ordained deacon and elder. He was also a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Society and the American Institute of Architects.

On June 2, 1946, he married Jacquelyn Bliss at Galena, her hometown. They had one child, their daughter, Cathryn Kovaciny Jelinek, who lives in Vienna, Austria.

Mr. Kovaciny was preceded in death by his wife on June 28, 2006. Five brothers and a sister also preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Parsons Presbyterian Manor Chapel, 3501 Dirr Ave., with the Rev. Sharlyn Gates officiating. Mr. Kovaciny bequeathed his body to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Prior to his death Mr. Kovaciny requested memorials could be given to the Parsons Presbyterian Manor or the First Presbyterian Church in Parsons. They may be left at or sent to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Orpha Marie Sandberg

SPRING GROVE, Va. -- Orpha Marie Sandberg, 90, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at John Randolph Hospital in Hopewell, Va.

She was born on Sept. 13, 1918, in Cherryvale, the daughter of the Rev. Vernon Franklin and Mattie Olive (Pilkington) xShe married Rudolph Roy Sandberg on Aug. 27, 1939, in Bartlesville, Okla. He preceded her in death on May 1, 1977. She lived most of her adult life in Chanute and in 2000 moved to Spring Grove, Va.

She was a longtime member of Grant Avenue Baptist Church, where she was active in the music program and played the piano and organ. She was involved in the Women's Missionary Society, serving in roles of leadership. She also enjoyed and was faithful in contacting and visiting people for the Lord.

She is survived by a son, Ronald Sandberg and his wife, Lynn Ann, of Lamar, Mo.; a daughter, Marcia Bailey and her husband, James Richard, of Spring Grove, Va.; four grandchildren, Brent Sandberg and his wife, Whitney, of Highland, Ill., and John Bailey and his wife, Akari, of Statesville, N.C., two granddaughters, Michelle Castle and her husband, Robert, and Angela O'Rawe and her husband, John, all of Spring Grove; 10 great-grandchildren, Sarah Cardman and her husband, Joshua, Samuel Castle, David O'Rawe, Michael and Rachael Claiborne, Maya Hubbs, Isabelle and Isaac Sandberg and Leo and Emmie Bailey.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 38 years; two brothers, Alonzo and his wife, Mona, and Lawrence and his wife, Mary Cloninger; and a granddaughter, Kathryn Bailey Claiborne.

A family memorial service will be at a later date in Virginia.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute.

Memorials in her name may be made to the charity of the donor's choice and may be made through Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 101 N. Highland, Chanute, 66720, or J.D. Morriss Purviance Chapel, P.O. Box 727, Wakefield, Va., 23888.