
MRS. BONNIE M. VAIL
Bonnie Marie Vail, 67, of Waterville, died July 22, 1995 at Community Memorial Hospital, Marysville, as the result of an auto accident.
She was born January 21, 1928, in Longton. She was married to Virgil Hull, Johnny Hollien and John Vail.
Mrs. Vail worked for fourteen years with Safeway Foods in Manhattan and 23 years as the executive director of the Waterville and Blue Rapids Housing Authority. She was a member of Church of Christ, Marysville.
Survivors include one son Jerry Hull of Hope; one brother Archie Murphy of Portland, OR.; three sisters Gracie Newingham of Eugene, OR., Virgie Stanley of Springfield, OR., and Violet Blanck of St. George; six grandchildren and two step grandchildren.
Services were at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Blue Rapids Community Center. Burial followed at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Howard.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas University Burn Center in care of the State Bank of Blue Rapids.
MRS. DIANNA F. VANDERPOOL
INDEPENDENCE - Dianna Fern Vanderpool passed away on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 63 years of age and a long time resident of Independence, Kansas. Dianna was born on Nov. 13, 1942 at Lamar, Mo. to Cecil Earl and Helen Juanita (Towery) Williams. She attended school and lived her early years at Longton, Kan.
On Jan. 1, 1957, she married John Vernon Vanderpool at the Longton Baptist Church and to this union was born three children, Johnny, Julie and Tony. They lived in several towns in Kansas before moving to Mound City in 1967. In 1984, they moved to Thayer, Kan., where they lived until moving to Palmyra, Mo. in 1989. They remained in Missouri until moving to Ft. Scott, Kan. in 1992, and then moved to the Independence, Kan. area in 1997. Dianna was a devoted wife and mother. She was employed at a department store and a grocery store for a brief time, and was a cook at the Cessna Canteen at Independence during the past three years, until her retirement in July of this year.
She was a member of the Federated Church of Mound City, Kan. In her later years, she attended the New Life Ministries, God's Family Chapel and presently attended the Communities Christian Church of Independence.
She is survived by her husband, John; her sons, Johnny, Uniontown, Kan. and Tony, Big Cabin, Okla.; her daughter, Julie Jackson, Caney; her mother, Helen Williams, Dexter; her brothers, Art Williams, Sedan, John Paul Williams, Eskridge and Steve Williams, Wichita; her sister, Alice Smith, Supply, N. C.; 12 grandchildren, three step grandchildren; five great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, two brothers and one great grandchild.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, 2005, at the Zimmerman Funeral Home in Howard, with Pastor Steve Butler of the Community Christian Church of Independence officiating. Interment was held at the Moline Cemetery in Moline, Kan.
A memorial has been established with the Community Christian Church Memorial Fund. Contributions may be left with the funeral home. The funeral arrangements were made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard.
JAMES F. VANDORN
James Franklin VanDorn, 67, of Longton, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006 at Mercy Hospital in Independence.
He was born April 26, 1939 in Woodward, Okla. to Everett Forest and Norma Viola (Maurer) VanDorn. He attended school in Oklahoma City, Okla. Due to disability, he helped out as a farm hand on his family farm most of his life. He moved to the Sedan area in 1980. He later moved to Longton in 1998. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and liked model cars.
He is survived by one brother, Everett VanDorn of the home in Longton, and one sister, Brenda VanDorn of Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bill who passed away in 1998.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Chautauqua with Joe Thomas officiating.
The family has suggested memorial contributions to the American Heart Association and these remembrances may be left at the funeral home. David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Sedan is in charge of arrangements.
MR. JAMES VAN ROYEN
LONGTON, Kan. James Walter Van Royen passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2005 at the Sedan City Hospital in Sedan, Kan. He was 63 years of age, a long time resident of rural Longton. Jim was born on Jan. 2, 1942 at Severy, Kan. to Earnest Burr and Laura Frances (Ferry) Van Royen. He attended school and grew to manhood in the Severy community.
On Nov. 27, 1960, he married, Mary Louise McCormac at Sedan. Jim was a devoted husband and father, and worked as an auto mechanic until his retirement. He has been a resident of rural Longton for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; his sons, James Wesley Van Royen, Wichita and Rickey Van Royen, Ronnie Van Royen, Danny Van Royen, Gary Van Royen and James William Van Royen, all of Longton; a daughter, Kimberly Van Royen, Longton; two brothers, Russell Van Royen, Moline and Kenneth Van Royen, Viola; three sisters, Lola King, Winfield, Neva Walter, Howard and Rita Lee, Andover, and seven grandchildren.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2005, at the Longton Cemetery in Longton, Kan., with Pastor Terry Marta of the Elk City Church of the Nazarene officiating.
A memorial has been established with the American Heart Association. Contributions may be left with the funeral home. The funeral arrangements were made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard.
MR. ARDELL VANSICKLE - Submitted by L. Morgan
Ardell VanSickle, 55, of Howard was swept off Highway 99 at Severy and drowned early Saturday morning while driving a pickup truck.
He had been on his way home from LaCygne, Kan. where he was employed as a welder for a constructin company. He had planned to spend the holiday weekend with family members there.
He was born June 11, 1921 at Yale, Okla., the son of Milton and Bessie S. (Bowen) VanSickle. He moved to Coffeyville as a young boy.
He married Patsy Fahler at Coffeyville on July 3, 1948. He was a veteran of World War II, and was employed as a welder for construction companies. He was a member of the American Legion and the Sunflower Grange.
He is survived by the widow, Patsy, and two sons, David and Timothy, all of the home in Howard; one daughter, Suzanne VanSickle, Topeka; two brothers, Albert and Clarence, both of Coffeyville, four sisters, Mrs. Ethel Workman, Fort Smith, Ark., Miss Corene Anderson, Tulsa, Mrs. Vera Basto, Huntington Beach, Calif., Mrs. Pat Carnes, rural Coffeyville.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of the Spurrier Funeral Home in Howard, with Rev. Stanley Hopwood, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Grace Lawn Cemetery in Howard with American Legion military graveside rites.
MR. LOREN C. VAN SICKLE
Loren Charles Van Sickle, 80, of Elk Falls, Kansas, died Thursday, November 17, 1994, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas. He was born April 8, 1914, in Lamont, Oklahoma, to Arthur Eddie and Pearl Ethel (Moody) Van Sickle. He was a retired Dry Cleaner Operator and had worked at Eckert Farm Equipment in Moline and 0 & B at Elk Falls. He was also a member of the Elk Falls Jehovah Witness.
On November 8, 1936, in Cherokee, Oklahoma, he and Essie Maye Bingamon were united in marriage. She survives at the home. Also surviving is one daughter, Lorna Barnaby of Wichita, Kansas; one sister, Oletha Stoops of Elk Falls, Kansas; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, November 21, 1994, at 2:00 p.m. in the Elk Falls Kingdom Hall. Interment was in the Elk Falls Cemetery. Mackie Redd officiated. Watt Funeral Home, Moline, was in charge of arrangements. A memorial in his name has been established with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
MR. ROBERT W. VAN SICKLE
Robert Warren Van Sickle was born in Winfield, Kansas on March 31, 1951 and graduated from Moline High School in 1969 and from Wichita State University with honors with a BA. in Business. He continued his education at the University of Missouri at Kansas City and received his Masters in Business Administration from there. Death occurred Sept. 17, 1994.
He worked for fifteen years for Marion Merrell Dow in numerous financial positions, most recently as a Senior Financial Analyst in the External Reporting area. He was an active member in the Kansas City Institute of Management Accountants. He had served as their Treasurer and was published in their journal. He was also a member of both the Wichita State and UMKC School of Business Alumni associations.
Survivors include his parents Mr. and Mrs. Loren Van Sickle of Elk Falls, KS. One sister, Lorna Barnaby of Wichita, KS. His paternal aunt, Oletha Stoops, Elk Falls, KS., and a maternal aunt Mrs. Eva Morey of Kiammath Falls, OR. and two nephews, Troy and Jason Barnaby of Wichita. The family suggests memorials in Bob’s honor to the Music Scholarship Fund at Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmont, Wichita, KS. 67208 or the UMKC Conservatory of Music.
A private memorial is being held in Prairie Village.
MR. ERVIN D. VESTAL
LONGTON-Ervin Dee Vestal passed away on Monday, June 20, 2005 at Mercy Hospital in Independence, Kan. He was 29 years of age and a resident of Longton. Ervin was born on Nov. 11, 1975 at Wichita, Kan. to Jack LeRoy and Mary Elizabeth (McClenning) Vestal.
Ervin attended Elk Valley Schools and graduated from Elk Valley High School. He helped make school history by being part of the team that broke the football loosing streak. He served as Elk Valley FFA president during his junior and senior years and served on the student council during his senior year.
Ervin was a member of the basketball team for two years and was on the football team during all four years of high school, elected King in 1993. He also was the reigning weight lifting champion in 1994, benching 360 lbs., squatting 500 pounds and overall posting 1,150 lbs. in all events. He was a member of the Independence Community College football team for two years and later attended Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University.
After college, Ervin worked at various jobs with Prestige, Spears and Charloma. He also, worked for his parents maintaining their rental property and worked in lawn mowing jobs. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and participated in several “bike run” fund-raisers as a member of ABATE, a charitable motorcycle association.
He is survived by his parents, Jack and Mary Vestal, Longton; brothers, Curtis, Kansas City, MO., and Leonard Blackwell, his wife Michelle and daughter Ashley, all of Waynoka, Okla.; his grandmother, Carol Beiter, Sedan; several aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Audine and John Vestal and Bill McClenning.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2005 at the Elk Valley School Gymnasium in Longton, with Pastor David Sanchez of the Christian Community Church of Longton officiating. Interment was held at the Longton Cemetery.
A memonal has been established with ABATE, a charitable motorcycle association. Contributions may be left with the funeral home. The funeral arrangements are being made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard.
MRS. FAYE L. VESTAL - Submitted by L. Morgan
FREDONIA - Faye Leona Vestal, 94, formerly of Longton, died Saturday at her daughter's home in Decatur, Texas.
Services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Countryside Funeral Home in Fredonia with Phillip Phelps officiating. Burial will be in Longton Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time.
Memorials are suggested to the Independence Bible School and they may be left with Countryside Funeral Home. Services are entrusted to Zimmerman Funeral Home, Howard.
Mrs. Vestal ws born, Jan. 10, 1914 in Elk City to James and Minnie (Davidison) Phelps.
On March 18, 1931 Faye married Chester Vestal in Independence. They were married for 72 years until his death in 2003.
Mrs. Vestal was a member of the Longton Holiness Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Carol Wiseman, Decatur, Texas; two sisters, Winifred Zollars, Alberqurque, N.M. and Helen Gourley, Sedalia, Mo.; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
MR. VIRGIL R. VESTAL
Virgil Raymond Vestal passed away Sunday, February 10, 1991 al St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, He was 69 years of age. Virgil was born on October 5, 1921 at Longton, Kansas to Nathan D. Sr. and Iza Howell Vestal. He attended Cove Rural School near Longton and was a farmer until joining the United States Army in August of 1942.
On March 2, 1944, he married Nellie Irene McGuire at Kansas City, Missouri. Virgil served in the Army Medical Corp in the European Theater during World War II. After his discharge in March in 1946, Virgil returned to Elk County where he and Nellie farmed near Longton. Nellie preceded him in death on January 27, 1968.
On July 25, 1969, he married Mary Doris Nash Mathews at Independence, Kansas. Also in 1969, he began working as a road maintainer for the Elk County Road Department. He retired from that position in 1983.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of Longton, two daughters, Vicki Morris of Newton and Janei Morris of Halstead, two step-sons, Bob and Jim Mathews of Independence, a step-daughter, Sylvia Augustine of Independence, foui brothers, Chester, Floyd and Bufford of Longton, and Nathan D., Jr. of Independence, a sister Velma Finney of Moline and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nellie, his parents and a brother, Loren.
Graveside services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 13, 1991 at the Longton Cemetery with Rev. Terry Davis, Sr. of the United Pentecostal Church in Independence, officiating. Military graveside services were conducted by Carter-Rader American Legion Post #149 of Howard.
A memorial has been established with the Ronald McDonald Sleepy Hollow House, 520 N. Rutan, Wichita, KS 67208. Contributions can be left with the funeral home. The funeral arrangements were made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard.
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