Virginia Belle Chilgren, 90, Ozawkie, died July 9, 2008, at Lexington Park, Topeka. She was born May 6, 1918, at Elkins, W.V., the daughter of Eugene E. and Bertie Mae Isner Mathews.

She graduated from Elkins (W.V.) High School. During the World War II war effort, she worked at the Goodyear Aircraft Corp. in Akron, Ohio. She moved to Topeka, when Goodyear transferred her husband to Topeka in 1944.

She had been a member of Central Park Christian Church and Topeka Chapter No. 462, Order of Eastern Star. She and her husband were active in Arab Shrine Temple.

She married Arthur Chilgren Feb. 24, 1940, at Monterey, Va. He preceded her in death March 11, 1989. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Howard Mathews, and a sister, Helen Evick. Surviving are five children, Bonnie Mello, Mesa, Ariz., Judith Wiese, David Chilgren, and Steven Chilgren all of Topeka, and Kathy S. Broxterman, Ozawkie; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

Funeral services were July 14 at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, Topeka. Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 NW Rochester Road, Topeka, 66617.

Janice Ferrell

Janice C. Ferrell, 82, Topeka, died July 10, 2008, at Aldersgate Village. She was born Jan. 27, 1926, in Minneapolis, the daughter of Ernest and Ima Merryfield Pogue.

After graduation from Minneapolis High School, she attended Emporia State Teachers College where she was a member of Pi Kappa Sigma Sorority. Later she attended Washburn University, receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education. Her teaching career started at Nichols Country School, a one-room school near Nortonville. The next four years, she taught the primary grades at North Fairview Grade School, Topeka, before taking a job at Pauline Central Grade School, Topeka, where she taught 22 years before retirement.

She was a member of Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church and Beulah Chapter No. 34, Order of the Eastern Star, of which she served as Worthy Matron in 1986.

She married Paul E. Ferrell in Minneapolis Feb. 16, 1946. He died June 16, 1995. She was also preceded in death by an infant brother and an infant grandson, Layne Ferrell. She is survived by a daughter, Tanzey Cutter, Tecumseh; a son, Kevin Ferrell, Texas; three grandchildren; two sisters, Beverley Woodruff, Minneapolis, and Kay Gibson, Salina.

A memorial service was held July 16 at Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church followed by Eastern Star services. Private burial of cremains was in Valley Falls Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church Building Fund, 7433 SW 29th, Topeka, 66614.

William Kimmel

William H. "Bill" Kimmel, 90, Ozawkie, died July 11, 2008, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. He was born May 16, 1918, at McLouth, the son of Raymond David "R.D." and May Tomlinson Kimmel.

He had lived in Ozawkie 10 years, moving from Morristown, Tenn. He worked as a general maintenance man for many years at the Life Care Center in Morristown, where he retired.

He was a 1936 graduate of McLouth High School and attended the University of Kansas. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Topeka.

He married Mildred Marie Landis March 12, 1950, at North Manchester, Ind. She survives at the home. He is also survived by a son, Mark Alan Kimmel, Ozawkie; three daughters, Gisela Marie Moffet, Ozawkie, Ursula Maria West, Deerfield, Fla., and Gloria Mae Montero, Morristown; a brother, Robert Kimmel, Middlesburg, Fla.; one sister, Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Sampson, Sterling; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 20 at the Church of the Brethren in Topeka. Mr. Kimmel was anatomically bequeathed to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. The family request memorials to the Church of the Brethren, 3201 NW Rochester Rd., Topeka, 66618. Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Oskaloosa is assisting the family.

Agnes I. Johnson

Agnes I. Johnson, 89, McPherson, formerly of Valley Falls, died July 11, 2008, at The Cedars care facility in McPherson. She was born July 8, 1919, at Nortonville, the daughter of Jesse B. and Daisy B. Northup Low.

She had worked at Valley View Nursing Home and Coleman's IGA, both in Valley Falls.

She married Gradion "Grady" O. Johnson Sept. 6, 1938, at Holton. He died Aug. 29, 1991. She was also preceded in death by a son, Richard Johnson, and two brothers, John Low and Ralph Low. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Johnson, Yuma, Ariz., and Gary Johnson, Meriden; a daughter, Sherry Hutts, McPherson; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

A funeral service was held July 15 at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Burial was at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice Care of Kansas (at McPherson) or to Jefferson County District 11 EMS and sent in care of the funeral home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, 66088. (mercerfuneralhomes.com)

Kathryn Walker

Kathryn Zelma Walker, 61, Oskaloosa, died July 11, 2008, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born May 15, 1947, at Macon, Mo., the daughter of John and Mildred Elsie Riley Lawrence.

She had lived in Jefferson County 26 years. She worked several years as a housekeeper at Jefferson County Geriatric Center in Winchester and as a dishwasher at the Kansan Restaurant in Oskaloosa.

She married Carl R. Walker Aug. 8, 1963, at Kansas City. He survives at the home. Other survivors include, two sons, Rodney Lee Walker, Easton, and Robert Walker, McLouth; two daughters, Denise Roberts, Oskaloosa, Carla Sedgwick, Easton; three brothers, Loyd Lawrence, Adrian, Mo., Joe Lawrence, Kansas City, and Ricky Lawrence, Norborne, Mo.; four sisters, Becky Taylor, Overland Park, Sandra Russell and Glenda Higginbotham, Bonner Springs, and Lois Michaels, Norborne; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Vernetta Rossler, one sister, Margaret Ann Lawrence, and a grandson, Nathan Walker.

Graveside services were July 16 at the Richard's Dale Cemetery in Bevier, Mo. Memorials can be made to Kathryn Z. Walker memorial fund and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Rex LeRoy Day, Jr.

Rex LeRoy Day, Jr., 60, of Memphis, TN, passed away at home June 28, 2008. He was born in Brookfield, MO.

He leaves his wife, Kathy B. Day, and daughter, Rebecca Ann Day, of Memphis; mother, Meredith Day, of Brookfield MO; sisters and brothers, Georgia Biswell of Overland Park, KS; Robert Day of Trenton, MO; Terry Day of Port Lucie, FL; Jim Day of Lecompton, KS; Kimberly Herries of Eudora, KS; stepchildren, Carl Criswell of Augusta, GA; Sheila Criswell, Memphis , TN. He is also survived by his stepgrandaughters, Erin and Alannah Criswell; eight nephews, five nieces, five great-nephews and two great nieces.

Mr. Day was a U.S. Army veteran and served in Viet Nam. His career included Cable Industry, Audio-Video Communicatios, Supervisor for Disaster Assistance and Entrepreneur.

The services were Monday, July 7, at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. A memorial service will also be held July 12 at 4 p.m. in the LaClede Cemetery, Brookfield, MO. For lasting memorials please consider a donation to the Rex L. Day Memorial Fund % of the Trustmark National Bank, 6767 Summer Ave., Bartlett, TN 38134. Arrangements by: Forest Hill Funeral Home East 901-382-1000

Obituaries Archive