OBITUARY: Virginia Mae Newsome Virginia Mae Newsome, 79, Topeka, died Mon., Feb. 28, 2011, at St. Francis Hospital. She was born March 2, 1931, in Topeka, the daughter of Carson C. and Ida D. (Sinclair) Swafford. She was retired from K.N.I. Surviving are 6 children: Sherry (Frank) Ortega, Doris Singleton, Joe Singleton, Terry (Cheryl) Wagner, Larry Newsome, and Karla (Larry)...

Thomas Robert Tipton, 59, Topeka, gave up his fight to lung cancer on February 26, 2011.Tom was born May 30, 1951 in Topeka, the son of Robert Leroy and Marian Irene (Miller) Tipton. He graduated from Seaman High School in 1969 and served in the Marine Reserve. He worked at Goodyear for 40 years and was a member of Local...

OBITUARY: Esther Lois Pachosa Esther Lois Pachosa, 85, Topeka, died Wed., Feb. 23, 2011, at Rossville Manor. She was born April 14, 1925, at St. Marys, KS, the daughter of Ralph E. and Lillian E. (Hammarlund) Clark. Esther was a member of North Topeka Baptist Church. She was married to Albert F. Pachosa for 65 years. He preceded her in...

Joseph A. Davidson, 77, of Topeka, passed away Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, at his home.Joe was born Oct. 15, 1933 in Horton, KS, the son of James and Dorothy (Mink) Davidson. He graduated from Wetmore High School in 1951. He worked 39 years for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, retiring on June 1, 1993. He married JoAnna R. Mack on...

William P. Redd, age 70, died on Feb. 13, 2011 at a nursing home in Austin, TX after a long illness. Bill was a Topeka resident most of his life prior to moving in August of 2009.Bill served in the US Navy for 20 years, and during that time received the honor of Chief of the Year. After his retirement...

Galen Lynn Simon, 53, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2011 at Stormont-Vail Hospital.He was born February 25, 1957 Quinter, KS, to Delmar and June (Barnett) Simon. Galen graduated from Hoxie High School in 1975. He married Karen Ritter on April 23, 1977 in Selden, KS.Galen worked for Sheridan County Road Department, State Highway Department, and Kansas Department of...

James "Jim" E. Blair, 80, of Ozawkie, passed away Feb. 18, 2011 at Plaza West Rehabilitation Center, Topeka. Jim was born Dec.31, 1930 in Sioux City, IA to William and Jean (O'Connell) Blair. The family later moved to Gordon, NE, where he graduated from high school in 1949. Jim worked throughout his formative years for Saub's Grocery Store. The owners...

OBITUARY: Rose Marie Frankenfeld Rose Marie Frankenfeld, 56, Berryton, died Thurs., Feb. 17, 2011, at Midland Hospice House. She was born Nov. 3, 1954, at Atchison, the daughter of James C. "Jim" and I. Lorraine (Evarts) Smiley. Rose retired from Hallmark Cards after 32 years of service. She was the founder of the Purple Rose Society. Rose enjoyed: being around...

Charles R. "Chuck" Pliler, Jr., 53, of Topeka, passed away Monday, February 14, 2011 at his home.He was born April 26, 1957 in Wichita, KS, the son of Charles "Ray" and Sue (Hoffman) Pliler, Sr.Chuck married Brenda L. Manis Atwood on November 25, 1981 in Topeka. She survives of the home. Other survivors include two sons, Craig and Lee Atwood,...

Roxie M. Nadeau Banta, 95, of Silver Lake, passed away Monday, February 14, 2011.She was born October 8, 1915 in Westmoreland, KS, the daughter of George and Ethel (Lister) Mitchell. She was employed as a Food Service Manager for Rossville and later Silver Lake School Districts.She was a former member of Rossville United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She...

Jewell "Kent" Robinson, 63, of Topeka, passed away Monday, February 14, 2011.He was born October 26, 1947 in St. Joseph, MO, the son of Clovis and Betty Lou (Karriker) Robinson. He was a graduate of Osborn High School, Osborn, MO and received a Bachelor's in Education at Missouri Western in 1973.He served in the U.S. Air Force. His sales career...

OBITUARY: Vern Clifford Ridgeway Vern Clifford Ridgeway, 73, Topeka, KS, died Mon., Feb. 14, 2011, at his home. He was born July 28, 1937, in Gary, IN, the son of Roy I. and Eileen (Dixon) Ridgeway. He was raised in Topeka, lived in Baton Rouge, LA, for 30 years, and Belize, Central America, before returning to Topeka. Vern was a...

Betty Lee Walters, 91, Topeka, died Sun., Feb. 13, 2011, at Lexington Park Nursing. She was born Dec. 8, 1919, in Topeka, the daughter of Floyd A. and Verna R. (Owen) Rogers. Betty was retired from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas. She was married to Ballard "Bob" Walters in 1937. He preceded her in death in 1983. She was also...

OBITUARY: Delbert Larry Downs Delbert L. Downs, 78, Topeka, passed away Fri. morning, Feb. 11, 2011, at Rolling Hills Health Center. He was born Sept. 25, 1932, in Topeka, the son of Leroy "Red" and Edna R. (Moody) Downs. He married Virginia (Waetzig) Downs on June 8, 1952, she survives. Delbert retired from Santa Fe Railway after over 39 years....

OBITUARY: Susan Dianne Davidson Susan Dianne Davidson, 53, Topeka, passed away Fri., Feb. 11, 2011, at the home of her parents after a two year battle with cancer. She was born July 3, 1957, in Topeka, the daughter of Joseph A. and JoAnna (Mack) Davidson. Susan loved all animals, but was especially fond of birds. She graduated from Topeka High...

Reverend Donald W. Rogers, 88, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at his home.He was born November 19, 1922 in Springfield, MA, the son of Robert N. and Norma G. (Spaulding) Rogers. He received a Master's Degree in Music from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ and a Master of Divinity Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL. Rev....

Harvey Edward Lister, 90, Topeka, died, Feb. 8, 2011, in Oklahoma City, OK. He was born Feb. 23, 1920, in Maple Hill, the son of Lee A. and Ada L. (Cheuvront) Lister. Mr. Lister after graduating from Dover, KS high school moved to CA and was employed at Douglas Aircraft. While there, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in...

Linda Rose Morstorf, 61, of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2011.She was born February 10, 1949 in Topeka, the daughter of James and Melba (Slater) File. She was a graduate of Topeka West High School. She was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone for 28 years, retiring in 2005.Linda married Claude "Buck" Ellis. They were divorced. She married Dale E....

OBITUARY: Joseph Donald Biggs, Sr. Joseph Donald "Don" Biggs, Sr., 81, Rossville, died Thurs., Jan. 27, 2011, at his home. Mr. Biggs was born Jan. 20, 1930, at Lee's Summit, MO, the son of Joseph Wayne Biggs and Beulah May Asbury Biggs. He spent much of his life in and around the Kansas City area where Don helped his parents...

OBITUARY: Doyle Gene Pepper Doyle Gene Pepper, 70, of Topeka, KS, died Thurs., Jan. 27, 2011, at Midland Hospice House after a short illness. He was born July 4, 1940, at Broseley, MO, the son of Phillip H. and Carrie A. (Reeves) Pepper. Doyle lived most of his life in Mammoth Spring, AR; Meriden, KS; and Topeka, KS, area. He...