November 17, 2004 The ADVOCATE’s Free Press & Community News Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 8, No. 90 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: “William Franklin Owens 1922-2004 Funeral services for William “Bill” Franklin Owens, 81, Parsons, were Saturday, November 13, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons with Rev. John Chastain and Rev. Dr. Vernon Schmid officiating. Interment was in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors. Mr. Owens died at 1:45 a.m., Tuesday, November 9, at Good Samaritan Center, Parsons. William Owens was born December 16, 1922, at Colony, the son of Olin Franklin and Cresenz (Bush) Owens. He grew up and attended school in Colony until his senior year in high school when he moved to Garnett. He graduated from Garnett High School in 1940. He attended Chanute Junior College for two years on athletic scholarships. Bill joined the United States Naval Reserve on June 7, 1942, during World War II. His basic training was at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station near Chicago, followed by Electrician’s School at Purdue University in Lafayette, IN, and Sub-chaser School in Miami, FL. He served in the Navy from June 7, 1942, to October 26, 1946, mostly in the South Pacific aboard the USS Griswold, DE-7 (Destroyer Escort), and the USS General Mark L. Hersey, AP-148 (Troop Carrier) as an Electrician’s Mate. On July 18, 1942, he married Glennice Barbara Trembly in Chicago. She preceded him in death on March 31, 2000, after nearly 58 years of marriage. He was an athlete from an early age, participating in basketball, football, track, and baseball ranging from sandlot through college sports and various adult teams. He refereed high school and college basketball for 25 years and football for 34 years, mostly in eastern and southeastern Kansas. He was instrumental in starting a youth baseball program through the VFW in Chanute in the early 1950’s. He coached, managed, and played on teams in Colony, Garnett, Chanute, and Parsons. These teams included adult teams, Pee Wee League, church teams, VRW, and American Legion from the time he was 14 years old. In his lifetime, he coached and managed a total of 32 teams. He was an enthusiastic fan of the Chicago Cubs. Following World War II, Bill worked for the Chanute Power Plant until 1950 when he began working for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, where he remained until his retirement in 1986. He lived in Chanute until moving to Parsons in 1959. Bill was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, the Telephone Pioneers, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the National Destroyer Escort Association. He was active in VFW, serving as Commander of the Brown-Bishop Post #704 for two years and as Quartermaster for 20 years. He was Third District Commander in 1970-71, State Chief of Staff in 1977, and National Aide-de-Camp three times. In 1986, he was awarded the VFW Elmer Jenkins Quartermaster Award. He also served as president and vice-president of the SEKan Telephone Pioneers. Mr. Owens was also preceded in death by his parents, Olin and Cresenz Owens; and his sisters, Mary Thompson and Frances Swanson. Bill is survived by his son, William C. Owens and his wife, Mona, of Edna; his daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Mike Gray of Pittsburg, Barbara and Ernest Moon of Cheyenne, WY, Susan and Vernon Scmid of North East, MD, and Sharon and Rick Cotter of Columbus, OH; his 10 grandchildren, Bill Gray and his wife, Jennifer, Nick Gray and his wife, Debbie, Amy Moon, Jason Moon, Susanna Schmid, Mary Schmid, Lisa Chapman and her husband, Marshall, Jamie Owens, and his wife, Lynda, Jennifer Jimison and her husband, Mike, and Brandi Cotter; his nine great-grandchildren, Billy Gray, Owen Gray, Jessica Gray, Kati Gray, Shelby Chapman, Chelsea Chapman, Will Owens, Emma Jimison, and Kaitlyn Jimison; and his sister, Dorothy Benjamin and her husband, Leon, of Garnett. Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons, was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 2: “Bob W. Ahring 1939-2004 Funeral services for Bob W. Ahring, 65, Garnett, were Friday, November 12, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at First Christian Church in Garnett with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating. Interment was in Garnett Cemetery. Military honor guard was provided by American Legion Post #48 and VFW Post #6397. Mr. Ahring died Monday, November 8, at Miami County Hospital, Paola. Bob W. Ahring was born April 28, 1939, at Harris, the son of Fred W. Ahring, Sr. and Marjorie (Bartlett) Ahring. He attended school at Iantha and graduated from Garnett High School. Bob served with the Kansas National Guard from 1961 to 1967. Bob and Judy A. Fair were married May 1, 1966, at Delia. In 1969, they started traveling the wheat harvest as a custom combiner, retiring in 2001. At the time of his death, Bob was employed by Caldwell Implement Company of Garnett, doing what he loved, working on combines. Mr. Ahring was preceded in death by two nieces, Tracy Ahring and Susan Fair. Bob is survived by his wife, Judy, of the home; his son, Randy and his wife, Ann, of Garnett; his daughter, Rhonda Dick and her husband, Daniel, of Osage City; his brothers, Fred Ahring, Jr. and his wife, Pam, of Garnett, and Rick Ahring of Parker; his sisters, Janice Beeman and her husband, Dick, of San Diego, CA, and Judy Messenger of Gardner; his aunt, Avis Ahring; his parents-in-law, Everett and Florence Fair of Alma; his sisters-in-law, Wanda Eberwein and her husband, Ralph, of Maryland, and Jayne Falletti and her husband, Gary, of Frontenac; his brother-in-law, Lee Fair of Alma; six grandchildren; and seven nieces and four nephews. Music was provided by Jon Covault, organist, and Butch Rocker, who sang “Go Rest High On That Mountain”. Casketbearers were Randy Ahring, Fred Ahring, Jr., Travis Ahring, Daniel Dick, Rick Ahring, Dick Beeman, and Terry Messenger. Honorary casketbearers were Wesley Ahring, Wyatt Ahring, Kenneth McMillan, Tyler Ahring, Lane Ahring, Ross Porter, and Rob Smith. The family greeted friends on Thursday, November 11, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon