DENNIS -- Roger Louis Rinkenberger, 66, of rural Dennis died at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at his home. Death followed a lengthy illness.

He was born Feb. 18, 1942, in Peoria, Ill., to Ralph E. and Ruth Irene (Thompson) Rinkenberger.

He earned his bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University and served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Vietnam War. He had been employed as an engineer by Automotive Controls in Independence.

On Dec. 17, 1993, he married Margo (Botts) Porterfield. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three stepsons, James Porterfield of Dennis, Robert Porterfield of Bloomburg, Texas, and Raymond Porterfield of Buffalo, Wyo.; six stepgrandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; his mother, Ruth Rinkenberger of Parsons; and a brother, Robert Rinkenberger of Plano, Texas.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the home of Ray and Sherry Turner, 2412 N. 10th, Independence.

Memorials are suggested to the Independence Food Bank. They may be left there or sent to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357. The funeral home is in charge of cremation arrangements.

Sharon A. Smith

Sharon A. Smith, 64, of Parsons died at 7:12 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.

She was born Sept. 18, 1944, in Long Beach, Calif., to Oren and Fayrene (Kenworthy) Dickens. As a young girl, she grew up in Neodesha, where she attended schools and graduated from Neodesha High School.

She married Eugene "Gene" Smith in 1965. He survives.

In 1971, she moved to Parsons, where she was employed for 35 years as a medication aide at Elmhaven East, retiring in 2006.

She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Other survivors include a son, Oren E. "Boo" Smith and his wife, Karesa, of Parsons; two daughters, Destiny "Dee" Nunez and her husband, Jorge, of Parsons and Reletta "Sis" Guevara and her husband, Ralph, of Sapulpa, Okla.; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Albert "Bobby" Dickens and his wife, Margaret, of Chanute; and three sisters, Patricia McBride and Diana "Sue" Hadaegh, both of Parsons, and Peggy Collins and her husband, Loren, of Altoona.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Richard Dickens; and a sister, Norma Bennett.

The service will be at 2 p.m. today at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. The casket will remain closed. Burial will be in Springhill Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Nadine E. Barr

CHETOPA -- Nadine E. Barr, 93, a lifelong resident of the Chetopa area, died at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, at Oswego Community Hospital. She had been in failing health.

She was born March 27, 1915, northwest of Chetopa to Luther and Eva (Thompson) Wiley. She grew up and attended schools in the Chetopa area and was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

She married George Arthur Barr on April 11, 1936, in Oswego. He preceded her in death Dec. 12, 1987.

She and her husband established Barr Lumber Co. in January 1959. Following his death, she and her son continued to operate the business until December 2007.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Chetopa, the Chetopa Chamber of Commerce, Chetopa Garden Club and was an original member of the Belmore Apartments Board of Directors.

She loved arts and crafts, sewing and tending her flower gardens. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Survivors include a daughter, Janice Wright and her husband, Joe, of Welch, Okla.; a grandson, Joe Bob Wright and his wife, Elizabeth, of Miami, Okla.; two great-grandsons, Bart and Drew Wright; five sisters, Darlene Thomas and her husband, Bill, Wintress Stine and her husband, Bob, all of Bartlesville, Okla., Imogene Miller of Bernice, Okla., Marcella Braley of Oswego and Luvonne Hucke of Mound Valley; and sister-in-law, Betty Wiley of Oswego.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Dwane Barr, on Jan. 16; a grandson, Bart Wright; a great-grandson, Nathan Wright; and a brother, Milan Wiley.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church in Chetopa. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, 67336.

Harry Clinton Samuels

JOPLIN -- Harry Clinton Samuels, 87, of Joplin died on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, in Joplin.

He was born on June 11, 1921, in Valley Center to Charles C. and Alda G. (Carey) Samuels. He proudly served in the Army Air Corp during World War II and was a prisoner of war in Romania. He was an industrial engineer until his retirement.

He is survived by two daughters, Donna Minor and her husband, Vern, and Patty Morris and her husband, Rob; two grandsons, Matt Minor and his wife, Kristina, and Seth Minor; a brother, Charles Samuel and his wife, Thelma; two sisters-in-law, Beatrice Brown and May Etta Rush; four nieces, Becky Brown, Lynda Rush, Sarah Hunt and Terry Wehmueller; and two nephews, Mark and Matt Brown.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mildred; his parents; brothers, Clyde and Claude Samuels; and a brother-in-law, Richard Rush.

The service will be at 10 a.m. today at Thayer United Methodist Church in Thayer with burial following at 3 p.m. in Floral Haven Memorial Gardens Broken Arrow, Okla. Donations may be made to the Thayer United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow is in charge of arrangements.

Ronald L. Blair

OSWEGO -- Ronald L. Blair, 78 of Oswego died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, at his daughter's home in Cherokee.

He was born June 2, 1930, in Franklin, Pa., the son of William Glenn and Velma W (Ford) Blair. He graduated from Franklin High School and carpentered in Pennsylvania for years before moving to Oswego to marry his pen pal, Lorene Davolt. After another marriage he later married Jean Roberts.

He was a volunteer at the Oswego Fire Department.

Survivors include four daughters, Patricia Jean Fry, Linda Diane Knight, both of Cherokee, Rebecca Sue Hellwig of Oswego and Rhonda Clifton of Parsons; a son, William R. Blair of Galva; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Cherokee Holiness Church, 309 W. Magnolia, Cherokee, 66724.

Murdock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Adeline Baker

CLAREMORE, Okla. -- Adeline Baker, 89, of Claremore, Oklahoma, formerly of Independence, died Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at the Blue Star Clinic in Claremore.

The service will be at 11 a.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Webb & Rodrick Chapel in Independence.

Arlie Lorraine Middleton

PITTSBURG -- Arlie Lorraine Middleton, 73, of Pittsburg died at 6:50 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, at Cornerstone Village after a short illness.

She was born May 10, 1935, in Galesburg to Burl and Ethel (Wilson) Peterson. She attended area schools and graduated from Galesburg High School.

She married John E. Middleton on June 21, 1953. He preceded her in death June 15, 2006.

She operated Arlie's Firewood Business at the home.

Survivors include a son, Frank Jay Middleton of Garland, Texas; a daughter, Jeanne A. Epperson of Lily, Ky.; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and five siblings, Ethel May Widowski of Wann, Okla., Billie Meier of Pittsburg, Jim Peterson of Thayer, J.B. Peterson of Cherryvale and Linda Diediker of Parsons.

The service will be at 1:30 p.m. today at the Church of Christ in Pittsburg. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Pittsburg Church of Christ. These may be left at or sent to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, 66762.