Deborah Phillips, 51, Valley Falls, died Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at the home of her parents in Valley Falls.

Burial will be at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Arrangements are pending at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. mercerfuneralhomes.com

Clifton Henderson Sr.

Clifton Lou “Clif” Henderson Sr., 85, Topeka, died March 17, 2008, at Plaza West Regional Health Center in Topeka. He was born March 23, 1922, at Bell City, Mo., the son of William Harrison and Della Allen Henderson.

Mr. Henderson had lived and farmed in the Grantville area near Topeka since 1956. He was a sheet metal worker. He retired in 1983 from Sheet Metal Workers International Union. He had also served as the past-president and manager of Union Local No. 77 in Topeka. He also served as past president of the Mo-Kan District Council of Sheet Metal Workers, Topeka Board of Building and Trades Union and the Topeka Federation of Labor.

He was a 1940 graduate of Beloit High School and attended Washburn University and Wichita State University. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.

He married Lenora May Hansford Nov. 13, 1942, at Topeka. She survives at the home. Other survivors include three sons, Steven Henderson, Clifton L. Henderson Jr., and Curtis Henderson, all of Topeka; one daughter, Marcia Henderson, Topeka; one brother, Bill Henderson, Beloit; three sisters, Janet Wisehart, Beloit, and Marjorie Grittman and Luann Hamel, both of Hutchinson; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were March 21 at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Funeral Chapel. Burial was at Grantville Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation and sent in care of the funeral chapel, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

William Vawter Sr.

William Louis Vawter Sr., 78, Meriden, died March 18, 2008, at his residence. He was born April 6, 1929, in Meriden, the son of Alfred Zane and Ethel Barney Vawter.

He was a 1948 graduate of Auburn High School, Auburn, and served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He moved back to his home place in the Meriden area in 1961.

He married Agonia Koci. They were divorced. They had two children, Ron Vawter, Topeka, and Marvin Vawter, Fort Worth, Texas. He married Emma Lou Carpenter 1955. They had three children, William L. Vawter Jr. Derby, Shirley Vawter, Milledgeville, Ga., and Sherrie Lynne Leiker, Topeka. He also leaves nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Mr. Vawter worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. for five years and retired from the 7UP Bottling Plant in Topeka after 33 years. He delivered the Topeka Capital Journal in the Meriden area for 10 years. He served as a charter member and past president of the Topeka SunRise Optimist Club for 19 years. He was a cub master and leader of the Meriden Cub Scouts for four years and served on the Fairview Election Board for over 15 years. He was a charter and life member of the VFW Post 10815 and served as chaplain at Meriden. He was a member of the Moose Lodge No. 555 of Topeka since 1967 and a member of the American Legion Post 400, Topeka, since 1974.

Funeral services were March 21 at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, Topeka. Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery with military honors provided by American Legion Post 400. Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Lou Emma Barrow

Lou Emma Barrow, 84, of Denison, KS passed away Saturday, March 22, 2008 at a Topeka hospital. She was born November 19, 1923, the daughter of Charles and Floy Miller Gilliland.

Lou graduated from Denison High School. She graduated cum laude from Washburn University in 1984, at the age of 60, with a B.A. in Social Work. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honorary fraternity at Washburn. In addition to being a homemaker, Lou was a social worker and director of Friendly Visitors of Catholic Community Services in Topeka. She had also worked at Barrow Fur Co. in Denison and at Fresh Start in Holton. Lou had been a member of the Denison Union Church and had lived on the same family farm southwest of Denison for 62 years.

She was married to Vernon L. Barrow on January 16, 1942 in Topeka, KS. He passed away May 10, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her son, Vernon C. “Red” Barrow on February 21, 2007 and her sisters, Lillian Manes and Mary Layton. Survivors include her children, Ray Barrow and Sandy of Holton, KS, Bill Barrow and Judy of Denison, KS, Sharon Barrow, Dee Petree and Barry of Holton, KS, Dan Barrow and Deb and Leo Barrow of Denison, KS, daughter-in-law, Debbie Barrow of Valley Falls, KS; her grandchildren, Sam, Willie, Lace, Zac, Charlotte, Lyle, Troy, Julie, Lori, Michelle, Rich, Jim and Charlie and 21 great-grandchildren.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 27, 2008 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Interment will be in Denison Cemetery. She will lie in state at the funeral home where the family will greet friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. Memorials may be given to Beck-Bookman Library c/o Mercer Funeral Home, Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, visit www.mercer-funeralhomes.com. 30-1tc

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