Edgar Wesley Tibbs

EDGAR WESLEY TIBBS PASSED AWAY ON THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026.

ED WAS BORN MARCH 26, 1929, AT THE FAMILY FARM NEAR GROVE, KANSAS. HE WAS THE SON OF EARL AND EFFIE MOATS TIBBS. ED GRADUATED FROM SILVER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1948; HE LOVED BASEBALL AND WAS A PRETTY GOOD PLAYER. HE ALSO HAD AN OFFER TO TRY OUT FOR THE CINCINNATI REDS PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM. DURING THE SUMMERS HE AND A FEW OF HIS CLASSMATES WERE RECRUITED TO PLAY ON SEVERAL TEAMS IN AND AROUND THE TOPEKA AREA.

HE WORKED AT THE GOODYEAR PLANT UNTIL MAY 24, 1951 WHEN HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND SENT TO KOREA WITH THE 148TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FEBRUARY 17, 1953 AND AGAIN WORKED AT THE GOODYEAR PLANT A SHORT WHILE BEFORE ATTENDING THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN KANSAS CITY, GRADUATING TWO YEARS LATER. DURING EDS SEARCH FOR A JOB WITH ELECTRONICS HE BUILT A HOUSE FOR HIS CLASSMATES AND GOOD FRIENDS DON AND BETTY KRUGER, A SHORT DISTANCE FROM SILVER LAKE ON 46TH STREET.

ED LIVED WITH HIS PARENTS UNTIL HE MARRIED IRENE (ENT) RICKLE SEPTEMBER 2ND 1960. IRENE WAS SUPERVISOR AT THE HALLMARK CARD PLANT AND ED WORKED AT THE DUPONT PLANT DOING SEVERAL JOBS WORKING UP TO DESIGN ENGINEERING THEN SUPERVISING MAINTENANCE AND TOWARDS THE END OF HIS CAREER HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SUPERVISE THE CONTROL AND GENERAL MECHANICS IN FINISHING AND COATING. SHORTLY AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE THEY SPENT EVERY EVENING BUILDING THEIR HOME NORTH OF TOPEKA ON ROCHESTER RD. AND DORN LANE. HE CONTINUED WIRING AND HELPED BUILD MULTIPLE HOMES FOR OTHERS IN THE AREA UNTIL HE RETIRED FROM DUPONT IN 1986.

HE AND IRENE WERE ACITIVE SQUARE DANCERS AND ENJOYED FOLLOWING COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH LON KRUGER’S TEAM WHEREEVER THEY PLAYED.

AFTER RETIRING HE AND IRENE BEGAN TRAVELING IN THEIR MOTOR HOME; INCLUDED WAS A TRIP AS FAR AS ALASKA. THEY SPENT 22 WINTERS AT THEIR HOME IN MESA AZ. THEY WERE LONGTIME MEMBERS OF MOOSE LODGE NO. 555 IN NORTH TOPEKA.

ED LOST THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE MARCH 30, 2017. HE SOON SOLD THEIR HOME THEY HAD BUILT AND BOUGHT A HOME IN MESA, AZ; A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE ONE HE AND IRENE HAD WINTERED IN. HE ENJOYED THE AREA AND QUICKLY BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH SOME OF HIS WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS AND OF COURSE THE COOKIE LADY ACROSS THE STREET MADE HIS NEW HOME EVEN BETTER. HE OFTEN DROVE HIS ELECTRIC SCOOTER AROUND THE CORNER TO ROCHESTERS RESTAURANT SO ALL THE HELP THERE WERE WELL AQUAINTED WITH HIM. ED ENJOYED 8 YEARS IN THIS HOME UNTIL HIS EYE SIGHT PLUS OTHER HEALTH ISSUES BEGAN MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO LIVE ALONE. HE THEN HAD TO MAKE THE SAD DECISSION TO MOVE BACK TO TOPEKA WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF JOHN AND BECKY DAVENPORT, HIS CLOSE NEICE AND NEPHEW, INTO CEDARHURST ASSISTED LIVING ON SW 17TH STREET.

ED WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS, AND A SISTER, EARLENE. HE IS SURVIVED BY IRENE’S DAUGHTER DELORES REICH, SPRINGHILL, KS; HER SON DAN (JOAN) RICKEL, TOPEKA; 2 GRANDCHILDREN, ESTHER CONLEY OF SPRINGHILL, KS, ROBIN REICH OF HARRISONVILLE, MO; 5 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; 5 GREAT-GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; SEVERAL NIECES, THEIR HUSBANDS, A NEPHEW AND HIS NUMEROUS FRIENDS.

THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS FROM 9:30 A.M., SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2026, AT THE PARKER-PRICE & DAVIDSON FUNERAL HOME, 245 NW INDEPENDENCE AVE, TOPEKA, UNTIL 10:00 A.M. WHEN FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BEGIN. INTERNMENT WILL FOLLOW IN THE WALNUT HILL CEMETERY, GROVE. KS, NORTH OF SILVER LAKE. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO THE SILVER LAKE HIGH SCHOOLS ATHLETIC DEPT., 200 E. LAKE ST. SILVER LAKE, KS. 66539.

TO SHARE A MEMORY OF EDGAR OR LEAVE A SPECIAL MESSATE FOR HIS FAMILY, VISIT THE GUESTBOOK BELOW.