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In Memory

1940s

Letha Epperly Bush, ’43, 97, Sept. 15 in Lyons, where she was a member of P.E.O. Sisterhood and was active in her community. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. She is survived by a daughter, Helen Bush Frick, c’66, g’74; two sons, Granville “Scotty,” c’70, l’73, and John, ’77; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Francis Carr, ’49, 94, Sept. 14 in Wellington, where he had a long career in banking. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Surviving are a daughter, Sarah, c’72; a son, David, c’73; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Donna Holm Fisher, f’49, 91, Aug. 8 in Santa Ana, California. She was a pianist. Survivors include four sons, two of whom are John, c’75, l’78, and Mark, ’79; and a daughter.

Glenna Creech Galloway, c’44, 97, Oct. 10 in Marysville, where she was a secretary at Marshall County Abstract and Title Company.

Russell Handy, c’47, 94, Nov. 13 in Sun City Center, Florida. He had a 32-year career as a pilot with Trans World Airlines and was recognized by Lockheed Martin for flying more than 10,000 hours in its L-1011 TriStar aircraft. Surviving are his wife, Margery Stubbs Handy, j’47; two daughters; a sister; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

John Harbaugh, c’48, g’50, 92, July 28 in Santa Barbara, California. He was professor emeritus of geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Surviving are his wife, Audrey Wegst, PhD’79; three sons; two sisters; a brother; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Helen Markwell Hartman, c’41, 100, June 19 in Hays, where she was a homemaker and a 50-year volunteer at local hospitals. She is survived by two sons, Mark, j’72, and Bill, c’78; two daughters, one of whom is Kathy, ’83; a brother, Calvin Markwell, b’50; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mary Wilson Hayman, c’42, 99, Sept. 12 in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she was a high school teacher and active in her church. Two daughters, two sons, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive.

Clarke Henry, c’44, m’47, 97, Sept. 20 in Fairway, where he had a long career as a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. He is survived by two daughters, Carolyn Henry Coulson, d’71, and Anne Henry Ralls, d’72, l’75; a son, Clarke Jr., m’78; a sister, Shirley Henry Dixon, c’44; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

John Meyer, e’49, 94, Oct. 5 in Topeka, where he was an engineer at the Kansas Department of Transportation. Surviving are his wife, Marilyn; two sons, one of whom is John Jr., e’80; a daughter; a stepdaughter, Jane Kaesler McCall, ’89; a stepson; two sisters; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Jeannette Perkins Olin, f’47, 93, Aug. 4 in Lawrence, where she was a retired occupational therapist. She is survived by a daughter, Sara Olin Zimmerman, c’74, d’76, g’79, PhD’86; and a son, Ron, d’75, PhD’83.

Barbara Roberts, c’47, c’48, 93, Oct. 19 in Overland Park. She lived in Portland, Oregon, for several years and was a hospital lab supervisor.

Robert Smith, e’46, 92, Sept. 8 in Leawood. He was an engineer and founded Smith and Boucher and Energy Masters. Survivors include five sons, three of whom are Vince, c’77, Jim, e’78, and John, e’85; a daughter, Mary Smith Buechler, j’86; and nine grandchildren.

Norma Henry Sutherland, c’45, 95, Oct. 28 in Fairway, where she was a member of several clubs and charitable organizations. Surviving are three sons, two of whom are Dwight, l’77, and Todd, assoc.; a daughter, Martha Sutherland Conrad, g’79; a sister, Shirley Henry Dixon, c’44; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

 

1950s

Patsy Gardenhire Anderson, j’53, 87, Sept. 6 in Largo, Florida, where she participated in a theatre group. Survivors include a son and a daughter.

Lewis Theil Bloom, m’57, 87, Sept. 19 in Wichita, where he was a retired radiologist. He is survived by his wife, Olive Selfridge Bloom, ’54; three sons, Barry, c’78, m’81, Lamont, m’79, and Jim, j’80, g’83, g’08; 11 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Betty Park Chronister, j’51, 94, Oct. 27 in Kansas City, where she was a homemaker and volunteered at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Survivors include her husband, Irvin, g’58; a daughter; a son; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Gilbert Cuthbertson, c’59, 81, July 21 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a professor of political science at Rice University in Houston and received many teaching awards during his tenure.

Rodney Davis, j’54, g’59, 87, Nov. 5 in Knoxville, Illinois, where he was Szold Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of History at Knox College of Galesburg. He is survived by his wife, Norma Glass Davis, f’54; three daughters; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Donald Dirks, c’53, l’55, 88, Oct. 13 in Bronxville, New York. He was an attorney. A daughter survives.

Murrell “Mert” Jessen, e’56, 89, Sept. 19 in Dallas. He was retired from Rockwell Collins. Surviving are his wife, Margaret, two sons and three grandchildren.

Emery Jones, c’52, s’56, 92, Sept. 6 in Denver. He lived in Leavenworth for many years, where he was a social worker at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. In retirement he taught classes at the military base’s arts and craft center. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Fevurly Jones, c’49; and a daughter, Melissa, h’84.

Wayne Kohman, e’51, 92, Oct. 17 in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he was a retired mechanical engineer who contributed to the designs of Sky Lab and the Hubble Space Telescope. Surviving are his wife, Nancy; two sons, one of whom is Donald, e’83; a daughter; a brother; and four grandchildren.

Bill LaRue, c’57, 84, Oct. 3 in Leawood. He was a practicing attorney for 35 years in Kansas City. He is survived by a son, William “Woody,” e’85, g’87, PhD’96; a daughter, Melinda LaRue Brown, c’90; and six grandchildren.

Alberta Johnson McGrath, d’55, 86, Nov. 24 in Leawood. She was a docent for 50 years at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and served as president of the museum’s Friends of Art group. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. She is survived by two daughters, Andrea McGrath Wehner, c’86, l’89, and Virginia McGrath Popper, c’88, j’88, g’90; and four grandchildren.

June Hereford Mendenhall, d’55, 86, Sept. 16 in Sedan, where she was a teacher and also managed Mendenhall Drilling Properties with her late husband, Roscoe, ’54. She is survived by a son, Roscoe III, e’81; two daughters, one of whom is Melissa Mendenhall McGrath, s’82; two sisters, Joan Hereford Underwood, ’57, and Judith Hereford Kissell, d’69; nine grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

Frank Newby, c’54, PhD’64, 86, Oct. 9 in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. He taught physical chemistry for 38 years at East Tennessee State University. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include four sons and seven grandchildren.

Robert Perusich, e’58, 84, Nov. 10 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. His career as a mechanical engineer spanned 60 years. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Phillips Perusich, g’79; a son, Michael, ’84; two brothers; and a granddaughter.

James “Dick” Pratt, b’50, 90, Oct. 23 in Topeka, where he owned Super D Drug stores. He is survived by two sons, Gary, c’75, and Brian, ’79; a daughter, Marianne Pratt Howell, c’84; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Nova Gene Stucker, e’52, 88, Nov. 13 in Houston, where he had a long career as a chemical engineer. Survivors include his wife, Dina Gaskell Stucker, e’54; two daughters; two sisters; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Edward Wall, c’56, l’65, 85, Nov. 19 in Appleton, Wisconsin. He worked for 25 years in the legal department at Kimberly Clark. Surviving are his wife, Marilyn Fuller Wall, c’56; two sons; a daughter; a sister; and four grandchildren.

1960s

Sherry Smith Ashenfelter, d’65, 75, Sept. 8 in St. Johns, Florida. She lived in Illinois for several years, where she was a school social worker and was named Social Worker of the Year in 1983 by the National Association of Social Workers. Survivors include her husband, John, a son and her stepmother.

Archie Bedford, e’61, 87, Sept. 19 in Baldwin City. He worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration before starting his own business as a surveyor. He is survived by two daughters, Danita, ’80, and Brenda Beford Sampson, d’81, ’92; three sons, one of whom is Doug, ’88; three sisters; a brother; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Richard Burke, b’65, 76, July 26 in Dodge City. He lived in Manhattan for several years, where he owned Burke’s Shoes and the Shoe Center and also was professor of management and marketing at Kansas State University College of Business. He retired as president of Dodge City Community College. Surviving are his wife, Georgia Scoggins Burke, n’74; a daughter, April Burke Bramini, ’93; two sons, Ryan, c’00, and Tyler, ’08; two stepdaughters; five grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.

George Burket III, c’65, 77, Oct. 31 in Kingman, where he was CEO and president of Kingman Abstract and Title Company. He is survived by his wife, Linda, assoc.; a son, Christopher, c’05; a daughter; and two sisters.

Colene Slawson DeHoff, d’64, g’86, 89, Oct. 2 in Lawrence. She had a 36-year career as a teacher and administrator in Tonganoxie. Survivors include a son, Bill, c’67; a daughter; three stepchildren; three brothers; a sister; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Daniel Fair IV, f’66, 78, Oct. 28 in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was an illustrator and artist. Surviving are his wife, Roshan, and two daughters.

Anne Garlinghouse, c’65, g’78, 76, Sept. 14 in Vancouver, Washington, where she was an attorney and also sold real estate. She is survived by two sons, one of whom is Todd Reamon, ’88; and four grandsons.

Mary Karen Smith Gosselink, f’60, 81, Oct. 17 in Kitchener, Ontario. She was an occupational therapist at the Waterloo Regional Home Care Program. Survivors include her husband, Bob, c’56; and three sons.

Carolyn Bradley Harvey, d’60, 80, Nov. 27 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was an elementary school teacher and school counselor. She is survived by two sons, John, e’90, and Brad, l’94; two daughters; a brother; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Walter Dean Henrichs, c’61, m’65, 80, Oct. 30 in Advance, North Carolina. He was a Navy flight surgeon and retired as captain before joining Winston-Salem Health Care as the organization’s first dermatologist. Surviving are his wife, Barbara Bremer Henrichs, c’64; three sons, Matt, c’97, Mark, b’99, and Jon, ’01; and two grandchildren.

Edward Horne, l’67, 83, Aug. 9 in Greenwood, Missouri. He lived in Manhattan for several years, where he retired as legal counsel at Kansas Farm Bureau. He is survived by four daughters, two of whom are Angela, l’90, and Laura Horne Popp, c’05; two sisters; and five grandchildren.

Ramona Lopez Hutchinson, c’63, 78, Nov. 4 in Russell. She lived in Kennewick, Washington, for many years and was an administrative assistant. Survivors include a son, Marc Bauman, b’86; a stepdaughter; two stepsons; her mother; a brother; two grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren.

Harry Knoche, c’65, 82, Oct. 26 in Overland Park, where he had a long career in data processing at Hallmark Cards and Western Auto. A memorial has been established at KU Endowment. His wife, Kathy, two sons, two daughters, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive.

Bill Lloyd, c’63, m’67, 78, Sept. 27 in Corvallis, Oregon. He was a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon and later became a radiologist. Survivors include his wife, Gerry Thorp Lloyd, c’64; a son; a daughter; a brother; a sister; and three grandsons.

Reed Smalley, a’60, 86, Oct. 22 in Overland Park, where he had a 26-year career as a pilot with Trans World Airlines. Surviving are a son, Scott, c’88; two daughters; four grandchildren; and a step-grandchild.

David Stinson, c’64, 77, Sept. 13 in Duluth, Minnesota. He taught geology at several universities and later sold office equipment. He is survived by his wife, Carole; a son; his mother; a sister, Deborah Stinson Russell, ’72; a brother; a stepbrother; and two grandsons.

Claude Werth, m’64, 82, Oct. 28 in Ocala, Florida. He lived in Kansas City for several years, where he was a neuropsychiatrist. Survivors include his wife, Linda Ross, s’86; four children, two of whom are Geoffrey, c’93, and Stacey Werth Jones, c’99; a brother; a sister; and six grandchildren.

James Williams, b’60, 82, Aug. 15 in Riverside, California, where he retired as lieutenant colonel after nearly 25 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. Surviving are his wife, Kathleen, two sons, a daughter, a stepson, three stepdaughters, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

1970s

Alan Braun, c’73, m’76, 68, Oct. 23 in Norwalk, Iowa. He was a rheumatologist and an active member of Boy Scouts. Survivors include his wife, Penny, six sons, two daughters, a brother, a sister and six grandchildren.

Ronald Carter, j’71, g’72, 71, Oct. 11 in Greenwood Village, Colorado, where he had a 50-year career in marketing and advertising. His wife, Shannon, a daughter, a brother and two sisters survive.

Paul Faucher, c’73, 69, Oct. 8 in Leawood. He had a long career in sales and later started a consulting firm. Surviving are his wife, Karen; two daughters; a sister, Carol Faucher Kowalski, j’75; and a grandson.

Tom Hansen, j’78, 63, Nov. 17 in Dallas, where he was chief commercial officer at Vital- Tech Innovations. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include his wife, Patty; two daughters; and a brother, Chris, c’82.

Clement Hanson, c’72, 69, June 24 in Denver. He was a colonel in the U.S. Army and later was a physician in occupational medicine. Survivors include his wife, Mary Stromer Hanson, d’73; a son; a daughter; and granddaughter.

Cynthia Artman Hartman, d’71, 69, June 3 in Omaha, Nebraska, where she was a volunteer at local schools and civic organizations. She is survived by her husband, Herbert, c’69, m’73; a son; a daughter; two sisters, Pamela Artman, j’73, and Christine Artman Lawrence, s’75, s’76; a brother; and three grandchildren.

Louis “Bill” Heist, e’70, 71, Oct. 4 in Sugar Land, Texas. He was a retired engineer. Surviving are a son; a daughter; two sisters, one of whom is Georgianne Heist Kleiss, c’72; and six grandchildren.

Terry Henderson, e’76, g’78; 70, Jan. 19, 2019, in Federal Way, Washington, where he was an aeronautical engineer at Boeing. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Brack Henderson, d’71; two daughters; a brother; two sisters; and two grandsons.

Leslie McCulley, e’72, 77, Oct. 11 in McKinney, Texas. He was an engineer at ONEOK, Inc. He is survived by a daughter, Pam McCulley Clark, ’85; two sons; a sister; two brothers; four grandchildren; and two great-grand-
children.

Pat Gray Oakson, d’74, 67, Nov. 1 in Carlsbad, California. She lived in Overland Park for several years, where she worked for the Blue Valley School District.  Surviving are a daughter, Jennifer Oakson Silver, j’00; and a brother, Bob Gray, j’73.

Harris Rayl, c’75, g’78, 66, Sept. 26 in Kansas City. He had a long career as a newspaper executive and worked for his family’s company, Harris Enterprises, which owned several Kansas newspapers. Most recently he served as publisher of the Salina Journal. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; two daughters, Alex Rayl Metzler, h’11, and Sydney, c’14; three stepsons, two of whom are Scott McCroskey, c’04, and Spencer McCroskey, ’04; his mother, Virginia Harris Rayl, c’49; two brothers, David, b’78, and Steven, b’80; and five grandchildren.

Matthew Sheets, ’79, 62, Sept. 21 in Wichita, where he co-owned Mort’s Cigar and Martini Bar in Old Town. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; and two brothers, Mark, c’78, and Morrie, c’82.

Argie Koons Staples, d’76, 69, Sept. 18 in Boston, where she was a photographer and participated in the Boston Camera Club. Surviving are her husband, Mark, c’75, PhD’79; a son; a sister; and a granddaughter.

Peter Suess, c’72, 73, Sept. 26 in San Antonio, where he worked in sales and volunteered in his community. He is survived by his wife, Martha Ziegelmeyer Suess, f’69; a son; two daughters; a brother; and seven grandchildren.

1980s

Henry Clark, c’84, 70, Oct. 15 in Warri, Nigeria, where he had a distinguished career as major general in the Nigerian army. His wife and several children and grandchildren survive.

Alan Hagman, j’87, 55, Nov. 11 in Long Beach, California. An award-winning photographer, he had a 32-year career at the Los Angeles Times and became the paper’s deputy director of photography. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Surviving are his parents, William, c’57, and Frances Smoley Hagman, d’57; and a sister, Jennifer, m’86.

Ron Heape, l’83, g’83, ’01, 71, Nov. 4 in Lawrence, where he volunteered at the Spencer Museum of Art and Ecumenical Campus Ministries. He is survived by his wife, Rose Mulally-Heape, ’85; a son, Ryan, c’01; two daughters; his mother; and a granddaughter.

Michael Johnson, e’86, 62, Oct. 1 in Kansas City. He had a 26-year career as president of Excel Constructors in Overland Park. Surviving are his wife, Debra, assoc.; a son; a daughter; a brother; a sister; and two grandsons.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Metzler, c’81, 78, July 17 in Kansas City, where she was president of an event-planning company. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. She is survived by a brother, John Metzler, e’74, g’79.

1990s

Theodore Scott Lowder, j’98, 46, Sept. 23 in Yates Center, where he was an editor at the Yates Center News. Survivors include two nephews.

UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

Malcolm Applegate, j’59, 83, Oct. 20 in Carmel, Indiana. He was assistant dean for the School of Journalism from 1965 to ’69 and later became president and general manager of Indianapolis Newspapers Inc. and publisher of the Indianapolis Star. He served on the Alumni Association’s national Board of Directors and the William Allen White Foundation board. Surviving are his wife, Connie, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Jon Blubaugh, g’63, PhD’66, 80, Oct. 22 in Lawrence. He was professor of communications and directed the undergraduate program in the communications studies department. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. He is survived by three daughters, Katherine, ’84, Karen Blubaugh Evans, j’85, g’88, and Carol Blubaugh Zoellner, b’86; a son Michael, d’90, g’92; a stepdaughter; four stepsons; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Helen Bodkin Connors, PhD’87, 76, Sept. 23 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, where she retired after 35 years as associate dean of integrated technologies at the School of Nursing and executive director of the KU Center for Health Informatics. Surviving are two sons, one of whom is Mike, c’92; a sister; a brother; and six grandchildren.

Albert “Sandy” Cook, 88, Oct. 17 in Lawrence, where he was associate professor of English. He is survived by a son, David, ’79; three daughters, one of whom is Ann, c’86, g’93; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Barbara Etzel, 93, Oct. 22 in Lawrence, where she was professor emeritus of human development and family life. In 1975 she was inducted in the KU Women’s Hall of Fame.

Mary Hawkins, 78, Oct. 6 in Lawrence, where she worked for nearly 40 years at KU Libraries. She also served as president of Faculty Senate during the 1999-’00 academic year. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. She is survived by a sister.

Robert Hoyt, j’62, g’63, 88, Nov. 29, 2018, in Crossville, Tennessee. He directed communications for nearly 30 years at the Life Span Institute. Survivors include his wife, Ragene Jones Hoyt, ’66; two daughters, Vicki Hoyt Bars, ’77, and Michelle, c’82; and a sister.

Jan Hurt Jess, s’82, 81, Nov. 8 in Lawrence. She had a 20-year career as assistant director of field practicum at the School of Social Welfare. Surviving are two sons, Jim, ’83, and David, c’89; a daughter, Jill, j’90; a brother; a sister; and three grandchildren.

John Mullens, b’73, 70, Sept. 24 in Lawrence, where for 33 years he was a campus police officer and retired as assistant director of public safety. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. He is survived by his wife, Linda Nichols Mullens, c’76, g’79; a son; two daughters; a stepson; a sister; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Patricia Nicholas, 75, Nov. 11 in Starkville, Mississippi, where she retired after working for the KU Center for Research. She is survived by her husband, Charles, ’80; and two brothers.

Bill Reed, m’56, 92, Oct. 1 in Kansas City. He was a cardiovascular surgeon and chaired the department of cardiovascular diseases at KU Medical Center. He also helped develop the hospital’s Center for Advanced Heart Care. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include three sons, one of whom is Bryan, f’89; and five grandchildren.

Tom Stidham, 78, Oct. 1 in Lawrence, where he was professor emeritus of music and associate director of University bands. He also was longtime director of the men’s basketball band and organized KU Band Day. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. He is survived by his wife, Linda, ’01; two sons, Mark, ’89, and Scott, ’89; a daughter, Marci Stidham Ebberts, d’96; and seven grandchildren.

Allen Wiechert, assoc., 81, Oct. 29 in Overland Park. He joined the Office of Facilities Planning in 1968 and later became University architect. In retirement, he ushered and coordinated audience services at the Lied Center. Surviving are his wife, Sandra Swanson Wiechert, ’80; a daughter, Kirstin Wiechert Novak, ’89; a son, Brendan, b’91, c’92; and six grandchildren.

ASSOCIATES

Elaine Adkins, assoc., 88, Sept. 18 in Haysville. She was a high school teacher and proofreader for the Emporia Times newspaper. Two sons, David, c’83, l’86, and William, ’85; and a granddaughter survive.

Treva Haden, assoc., 80, Oct. 25 in Wichita. She is survived by her husband, Richard, e’62; three children, one of whom is Marc, s’97; a sister; a brother; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Beth Klein, assoc., 67, Oct. 3 in Prairie Village, where she was a homemaker. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Surviving are her husband, Robert, assoc.; a daughter, Melanie, c’03, ’06; two sons, one of whom is Jeffrey, m’10; two brothers; and four grandchildren.

Cherrie Koehn, assoc., 89, Oct. 16 in Topeka, where she was an administrative assistant and bookkeeper at her husband’s business, Medical Arts Pharmacy. Survivors include a son, Brad, b’80; and three grandchildren.

Joan McClure, assoc., 98, Sept. 29 in Kansas City. She retired after working for nearly three decades at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. She is survived by a son, Scott, j’80; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Harris Webber, assoc., 79, Sept. 11 in Vero Beach, Florida. He founded a company that built and managed retirement communities. Surviving are his wife, Myra Anderson Webber, d’62; three daughters; and six grandchildren.

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