John Dickinson

John Roland Dickinson, 76, Oskaloosa, formerly of Leavenworth, died May 7, 2008, at Hickory Point Nursing Center, Oskaloosa. He was born Dec. 27, 1931, in Kansas City, the son of George and Alma Loggans Dickinson.

He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was an elementary school principal at Leavenworth Public Schools from 1960 to 1978 and Ft. Leavenworth Schools, 1978 to 1992. He received his bachelor in education from the University of Kansas in 1959 and his master’s in 1962.

He married Rita Ann Slawson Aug. 16, 1953, in Tonganoxie. She survives of the home. Other survivors include three sons, John, Jeff and Jay, all of Leavenworth; two daughters, Joyce Simmons, Seymour, Mo., and Julie Tribble, Ft. Worth, Texas; two brothers, James, El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Rollie, Bolivar, Mo.; three sisters, Ella Mae Loomis, Irving, Texas, and Ruth Butler and Lucille Cramer, both of Stockton, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services were May 10 at Quisenberry Funeral Home, Tonganoxie. Burial was in Fall Creek Cemetery, Jarbalo.

William Reynolds

William Alvin “Squirrel” Reynolds, 85, Winchester, died May 11, 2008, at the Olathe Medical Center. He was born April 24, 1923, at Winchester and was a lifelong resident of the Winchester and Mooney Creek communities.

He was a farmer and stockman in the Mooney Creek community from 1944 to 2003 when he retired. He was a school bus driver in the Winchester Public School District for 14 years. He was a member of the New Testament Christian Church in Winchester and was a 1941 graduate of Winchester High School.

He married Betty Jeanne Ragland Sept. 28, 1944, at Leavenworth. She survives at the home. He is also survived by two sons, William C. “Bill” Reynolds, Stewartsville, Mo., and Bob Reynolds, Ottawa; one daughter, Beth Weishaar, Topeka; three brothers, James Reynolds, Nortonville, and Harvey Reynolds and Don Reynolds, both of Winchester; one sister, Dora Kiernan, Winchester; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Lewis Reynolds, and two sisters, Irene Smith and Ethel Coppinger.

Funeral services were May 14 at the New Testament Christian Church. Burial was at the Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Winchester. Memorials can be made to the New Testament Christian Church and sent in care of the Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Lucile Funk

Lucile M (Oaks) Funk, 91, passed into the arms of her Lord & Savior May 8, 2008. She was born on Oct. 18, 1916 at Harris, KS, the seventh child of Cristopher and Lizzie (Henricks) Oaks.

Her husband Carl preceded her in death on November 10, 1999. Two brothers and three sisters also preceded her in death. Mrs. Funk was a teacher in the one-room country schools of Jefferson Co., KS for several years, then in the elementary school of Winchester, KS.

She was married to Carl J. Funk on Aug. 1, 1940. The Funks were farmers, first at Winchester, then northwest of Valley Falls until the Perry Reservoir took their farm. They bought an 800-acre farm at Goff, KS, and raised Registered Polled Herefords. They had an annual Production Sale at their farm, until 1976 when they sold the farm and retired. They then moved to Ozawkie, KS, where they became Snowbirds, and spent eighteen winters in Arizona.

In 1994 they moved to a retirement home in Topeka. She moved to St. Joseph, MO in 2001. Mrs. Funk gave her heart to the Lord at the age of ten, and never wavered in her faithfulness to her church. She was a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was a member of the Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church. She was also a member of the Senior Adult Sunday School Class and the Watchman Prayer Team.

Survivors include one son, Dr. Edward L. (Stephanie) Funk, Greenfield, MA; two daughters, Carol (Jim) Forrest, Hastings, MN and Donna (Burl) Penny, Troy, KS; five grandsons and their wives, Greg (Ella) Kennedy, Dan (Dawn) Kennedy, Eric (Irina) Kennedy, Christopher (Stacy) Kennedy, Nathan (Miranda) Penny; two granddaughters, Crystal (Aaron) Duckworth and Lindsay (Jason) Spencer; fourteen great-grandchildren. A sister, Leeta Danielson, Largo, FL, also survives.

Arrangements are under the direction of Harmon-Rohde Funeral Home, Troy, Kansas. Services at Frederick Blvd Baptist Church, St. Joseph, were Monday followed by burial at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Frederick Blvd. Baptist Church Blessings Chest, or to the American Cancer Society. 37-47-1tc

Gary Bledsoe

Gary Dean Bledsoe, 42, Valley Falls, died May 11, 2008, in Topeka. He was born Aug. 12, 1965, in Topeka, the son of Gordon Lee and Eileen Rose Johnston Bledsoe.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a daughter, Beverly Alaine Bledsoe; two brothers, Todd Bledsoe, Leavenworth, and Rodney Bledsoe, Independence, Mo.

A graveside service will be 2 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Fairview Cemetery, northwest of Oskaloosa. The family will received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence, Topeka. Memorial contributions can be made to the Beverly Bledsoe Scholarship Fund and sent in care of Denison State Bank, Box 288, Meriden, 66512.

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