1918
Mr.
2011
Mr. Alva Byars
January 24, 1918 — January 30, 2011
ALVA A. BYARS
Alva A. Byars passed away at Kansas City Hospice House on January 30, 2011. Al was 93 years old. He was born on January 24, 1918 in Carbondale, Illinois, the 7th child of Nell Gill Robinson Byars and John Byars. He lost his mother at age 5 and his father at age 9 and was raised by older sisters Mildred and Bertha on the family farm outside Carbondale. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre for 4 years during World War II and he returned from the war to marry Freeda Higgs. Together they had 6 daughters. After the War, Al went to college on the GI Bill at Southern Illinois University and Bradley University, achieving his Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD (abd) in vocational education.
Al and Freeda settled in Overland Park, Kansas in 1969 where Al worked for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare from which he retired in 1981. He lost Freeda, the love of his life, and wife of 54 years in July 2000.
He is survived by his six daughters, Judith Roll of Merrimac, Wisconsin; Debra Jean Byars (Fred Teitgen) of Poynette, Wisconsin; Beverly Joan Byars of Manassas, Virginia; Joyce Meers (Stephen) Prior of Highland Park, Illinois; Janet Byars of Englewood, Ohio; and Jacqueline (Mike) Nelson of Shawnee, Kansas; four grandchildren, Jessica Roll (Chris) Spitzer of Columbus, Ohio; Jay Meers of Centerville, Ohio; Lindsay and Brooke Nelson of Shawnee, Kansas, and one still-anticipated great grandchild. Al was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nell Byars; his wife, Freeda Byars; his brothers and sisters, Hugh Byars, Bert Byars, Bertha Beal, Mildred Thompson, Marjorie Cooper, and Ralph Byars; and a grandson, Justin “Scotty” Meers (deceased 2010 of traumatic brain injury).
Al was a very sociable guy, quick with a smile, a joke, and a story. He made friends wherever he went and was a proud member of the Marine Corps League. He took great pride in his family and would show pictures of them to anyone who would stop to take a look. He remained funny and spunky to the end. He will be deeply missed.
A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, February 2nd at 11:00 am at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas. Visitations are scheduled for Tuesday, February 1st from 5:30 – 7:30 pm and from 10 – 11:00 am on Wednesday, February 2nd at the D.W. Newcomer’s Funeral Chapel. Following the service, Al will be laid to rest beside his wife, Freeda at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, adjacent to the Chapel. Lunch will follow immediately after at 7330 Oakview, Shawnee, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brain Research Foundation, 111 W. Washington Street, Suite 1710, Chicago, IL 60602 or Kansas City Hospice, www.kansascityhospice.org or 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114.
Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com (Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 913-451-1860)
Alva A. Byars passed away at Kansas City Hospice House on January 30, 2011. Al was 93 years old. He was born on January 24, 1918 in Carbondale, Illinois, the 7th child of Nell Gill Robinson Byars and John Byars. He lost his mother at age 5 and his father at age 9 and was raised by older sisters Mildred and Bertha on the family farm outside Carbondale. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre for 4 years during World War II and he returned from the war to marry Freeda Higgs. Together they had 6 daughters. After the War, Al went to college on the GI Bill at Southern Illinois University and Bradley University, achieving his Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD (abd) in vocational education.
Al and Freeda settled in Overland Park, Kansas in 1969 where Al worked for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare from which he retired in 1981. He lost Freeda, the love of his life, and wife of 54 years in July 2000.
He is survived by his six daughters, Judith Roll of Merrimac, Wisconsin; Debra Jean Byars (Fred Teitgen) of Poynette, Wisconsin; Beverly Joan Byars of Manassas, Virginia; Joyce Meers (Stephen) Prior of Highland Park, Illinois; Janet Byars of Englewood, Ohio; and Jacqueline (Mike) Nelson of Shawnee, Kansas; four grandchildren, Jessica Roll (Chris) Spitzer of Columbus, Ohio; Jay Meers of Centerville, Ohio; Lindsay and Brooke Nelson of Shawnee, Kansas, and one still-anticipated great grandchild. Al was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nell Byars; his wife, Freeda Byars; his brothers and sisters, Hugh Byars, Bert Byars, Bertha Beal, Mildred Thompson, Marjorie Cooper, and Ralph Byars; and a grandson, Justin “Scotty” Meers (deceased 2010 of traumatic brain injury).
Al was a very sociable guy, quick with a smile, a joke, and a story. He made friends wherever he went and was a proud member of the Marine Corps League. He took great pride in his family and would show pictures of them to anyone who would stop to take a look. He remained funny and spunky to the end. He will be deeply missed.
A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, February 2nd at 11:00 am at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas. Visitations are scheduled for Tuesday, February 1st from 5:30 – 7:30 pm and from 10 – 11:00 am on Wednesday, February 2nd at the D.W. Newcomer’s Funeral Chapel. Following the service, Al will be laid to rest beside his wife, Freeda at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, adjacent to the Chapel. Lunch will follow immediately after at 7330 Oakview, Shawnee, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brain Research Foundation, 111 W. Washington Street, Suite 1710, Chicago, IL 60602 or Kansas City Hospice, www.kansascityhospice.org or 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114.
Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com (Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 913-451-1860)
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mr. Alva Byars, please visit our flower store.