1920
Merle
2008
Merle Whitson
February 15, 1920 — December 10, 2008
MERLE ELVIN WHITSON, age 88, of Leawood, KS passed away on Dec. 10, 2008 at Olathe Medical Center from Heart Disease.
Memorial services will be at Cherokee Christian Church, Prairie Village, KS on Sat. Dec. 27th at 11:00 AM, lunch following in fellowship hall. Private burial in Benton, KS.
Mr. Whitson was born Feb 15, 1920 in Benton, KS and grew up on a farm near Benton. During WWII he was a specialty tool designer for Boeing and Beechcraft Air. After the war he became a web pressman and worked for the Wichita Eagle-Beacon 1945 to 1953. He then moved to Fairway, KS in 1953 and worked at the KC Star-Times until 1973. He became a maintenance engineer manager for several hotels until his retirement in 1995. Throughout the years he was an inventor of things and a builder of contraptions. He was deacon and elder of Cherokee Christian Church, where he was property chairman for many years. He was also an avid fan of K. U. basketball, and until this year he rarely missed going to watch the games at a local watering hole.
He was preceded in death by his parents Russell C and May Davis Whitson of Benton and Wichita, KS. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Marlene C Whitson; daughter Marice and son-in-law Ricci Ballesteros of Leawood, KS; and daughter Michelle and son-in-law Philip Stone of Woodland, CA; 5 grandchildren; 2 great grandsons; and extended family in Butler County Kansas.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Cherokee Christian Church, 7457 Cherokee Dr., P.V., KS 66208.
Memorial services will be at Cherokee Christian Church, Prairie Village, KS on Sat. Dec. 27th at 11:00 AM, lunch following in fellowship hall. Private burial in Benton, KS.
Mr. Whitson was born Feb 15, 1920 in Benton, KS and grew up on a farm near Benton. During WWII he was a specialty tool designer for Boeing and Beechcraft Air. After the war he became a web pressman and worked for the Wichita Eagle-Beacon 1945 to 1953. He then moved to Fairway, KS in 1953 and worked at the KC Star-Times until 1973. He became a maintenance engineer manager for several hotels until his retirement in 1995. Throughout the years he was an inventor of things and a builder of contraptions. He was deacon and elder of Cherokee Christian Church, where he was property chairman for many years. He was also an avid fan of K. U. basketball, and until this year he rarely missed going to watch the games at a local watering hole.
He was preceded in death by his parents Russell C and May Davis Whitson of Benton and Wichita, KS. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Marlene C Whitson; daughter Marice and son-in-law Ricci Ballesteros of Leawood, KS; and daughter Michelle and son-in-law Philip Stone of Woodland, CA; 5 grandchildren; 2 great grandsons; and extended family in Butler County Kansas.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Cherokee Christian Church, 7457 Cherokee Dr., P.V., KS 66208.
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