Shirley A. Meek, 82, Topeka, passed away on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at a local care facility. Shirley was born February 1, 1928 in Emporia, the daughter of L.G. and Laverne (Blake) Bean. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1946 and Washburn University with a degree in Music Education in 1951. Shirley married Fred Meek on August 9, 1952...

Richard H. "Dick" Smelser, 74, Topeka, died Monday, January 31, 2011 at Midland Hospice House surrounded by his family.He was born December 27, 1936 in Topeka, the son of Harold L. and Mary J. Rogers Smelser. He graduated from Hutchinson High School, received a BS from Washburn University and a Master's Degree from The University of Kansas.Dick worked for the...

Duane Berbie Dietrich, 79, passed away at his home in Topeka, on January 28, 2011, at 6:06 p.m., surrounded by his loving wife of 54+ years, Doris Jean, his daughter, Cindy Sue, and his son, Jeffrey Jay. He was born March 27, 1931, at Carbondale, KS, the son of Martin and Gleda (Crocker) Dietrich. Duane's early years were spent on...

Harold D. Glaze, 74, of Topeka, passed away on Friday, January 28, 2011 at Aldersgate Village in Topeka. He was born July 21, 1936 in Emporia, the son of Arthur and Marjorie Herman Glaze. He graduated from Emporia High School and had resided there until moving to Topeka in 1995. While living in Emporia, he owned and operated several businesses'...

Mary Alice Robinson, 82, of Topeka, passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Midland Hospice. She was born on January 20, 1929 in Lee's Summit, MO to Raymond Merle and Susie (Wood) Westerfield. She graduated from American School of Chicago and attended Washburn University for two years. In the early years Mary was a Vanda Beauty Counselor. She also...

Patricia Marie (Borgren) Burrell, 55, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, January 26, 2011, at her home.She was born September 2, 1955, in Sacramento, CA, the daughter of Calvin J. and Margaret (Piering) Borgren. She was a graduate of Hayden High School and Washburn University. Survivors include three daughters, Jennifer Burrell, Olathe, Angela Gleason, Omaha, NE, and Valerie Burrell, Lawrence; four...

Josephine Griffith, 97, Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at a local hospital. Josephine was born February 20, 1913 in Lincoln County, the daughter of Orin and Rosetta (Richards) Lessenden. She was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church. Josephine married Chancy Griffith on November 19, 1941 in Salina. He died in 1981. Survivors include daughters, Joan...

Marvin D. Gilkeson went to his Lord on Saturday, December 25, 2010 in Lakewood, Colorado. His daughter, Cathy, and Cathy's mother, Mary B. Johnson of Topeka, were at his bedside. He was born December 22, 1923 in Topeka, the son of Leonard and Minnie Gilkeson.He is survived by his daughter, Cathy Lynn Gilkeson of Littleton, CO, and a brother, Leonard...

Donald L. Jesse, 82, of Topeka, passed away January 22, 2011. Donald L. Jesse was born on November 14, 1928, in Arcadia, California, son of Sam and Mabel (Werner) Jesse. He graduated John Brown Academy and attended the University of Kansas and Washburn University. Donald was an insurance agent in the insurance industry for 53 years, which included Penn Mutual...

Dr. Jack L. Garhan, D.D.S., 84, of Topeka, passed away on Friday, January 21, 2011 at Lexington Park Assisted Living. He was born on November 21, 1926 in Rising City, NE to William F. and Harriet E. (Olson) Garhan. After high school, Jack served with the Merchant Marines and Army, traveling around the world. He graduated from Wichita State University...

Alta Mae "Pinky" Johnson, 67, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, January 20, 2011 at her home.She was born March 11, 1943 in Escondido, CA the daughter of Alton and Sarah (Hedrick) Fielder. She was raised by Francis and Sarah Greemore. She was a graduate of Highland Park High School and attended Washburn University.She was employed by the Kansas Hospital Association,...

Frances L. Walbourn, 91, of Topeka, passed away, Wednesday, January 19, 2011. She was born September 22, 1919 in Galena, KS to Virgil and Frances Fisher. She graduated co-valedictorian from Galena High School in 1937. She then graduated from Joplin Business College where she later taught. She was a longtime employee of USD 490, El Dorado, Kansas. Frances married Edwin...

Elmer Dale Waterman, 75, of Topeka, was called home Tuesday, January 18, 2011 after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Washington, KS on July 5, 1935. He was the son of Elmer and Vera Waterman.He graduated from Barnes High School in 1953. He moved to Topeka where he met and married his wife, Betty Teske. Together the...

Marjorie Crawford Drake, 94, of Topeka, passed away Monday, January 17, 2011.She was born April 20, 1916 at Richmond, VA, the daughter of William Madison Crawford and Nannye Fletcher Austin Crawford.She lived in Topeka from 1949 to 1972. She lived in Richmond, VA for 15 years, 1972-1987. She returned to Topeka to live in 1987.She was a member of the...

Virginia Swenson, age 91, Topeka, went to her Lord peacefully at home on January 16, 2011. She was born November 6, 1919, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of George and Daisy Wetzel Henney. Virginia graduated from Topeka High School in 1938 and attended Washburn College. She went to work for the Santa Fe Railway. She married Chester Norman Fox May...

Douglas Dean Wilson, 47, passed away Jan. 13, 2011, at Stormont-Vail Health Center. Douglas was born Sept. 12th, 1963 in Norfolk, Nebraska, to Mary and Myrlin Wilson. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Kathy Wilson and Uncle Kenneth and Aunt Ernestine Wilson who raised him from an early age after his parents' death. He was a graduate...

Virginia I. Rusch, 95, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at McCrite Plaza Health Center. She was born November 13, 1915 in Tevis, Shawnee Co., KS, the only child of Joseph A. and Bertha B. Fergel Rohler. She lived most of her life in the Berryton area, graduating from Berryton High School in 1934. On September 2,...

Dorothy M. Briggs, 82 of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at St. Francis Health Center. She was born on October 24, 1928 in Topeka, Kansas to Michael G. and Matilda M. Breight.Dorothy graduated from Hayden High School in 1947. On June 18, 1947 she married Donald E. Briggs at Assumption Catholic Church. She was a member of...

Roger T. Young, 65, of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2011. Roger was born July 22, 1945, near Gridley, Kansas, son of John and Eleanor (Jasper) Young. He graduated from Gridley High School in 1964. Roger served in the US Air Force from 1965- 1968. He worked at Kansas Power & Light/Westar for 32 years, until his retirement in...

Mrs. Martha E. Lister, 94, of Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at Stormont-Vail Hospital. She was born on March 16, 1916 at Oak Hill, Kansas, the daughter of Maurice C. and Bessie I. (Fowler) Sutton. Martha married Marvin J. Lister on August 24, 1937. He preceded her in death in 2001. Together they owned and operated a...