Deaths and funerals

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Aug 15, 2001 by Capital-Journal

Larry Blanton

ST. GEORGE --- Larry Gail Blanton, 59, St. George, died Monday, Aug. 13, 2001, at a Manhattan hospital.

Mr. Blanton most recently worked for the facilities department at Kansas State University.

He was born Dec. 27, 1941, in Dwight, to Samuel and Fern Lucy Moser Blanton. He graduated from Dwight High School and later studied to be an auto body technician.

Survivors include a daughter, Corinna Ruckert, Manhattan; a son, Kelly Blanton, Overland Park; companion, Darcie Barker, St. George; two stepdaughters, Richelle Kayton, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Elizabeth McKay, Columbus, Ohio; six sisters, Lois Schuette and Thelma Walker, both of Topeka, Nancy Lang, Burlingame, Carol Cockrill Burton, Las Vegas, Ruby Cribbs, Mount Angel, Ore., and Vicki Eveland, Summit, Colo.; four brothers, Don Blanton, Topeka, Thomas Rex Blanton, Wichita, Ed Blanton, White City, and Vernon Blanton, Las Vegas; two grandchildren; and five stepgrandchildren.

Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. Thursday until service time at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials to the Kansas State University Foundation for the Center for Basic Cancer Research, which may be sent in care of Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, 66502.

Donald Ford

HORTON --- Donald L. Ford, 81, Horton, died Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2001, at his home.

Mr. Ford was a retired teacher and coach. He was in the Indian Service in Arizona, New Mexico and South Dakota from 1962 to 1972, and was in Missouri and Phoenix until 1987. He was a U.S. Army and U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was discharged in 1946 at the rank of corporal.

He was born Nov. 21, 1919, near Highland, to Willis Pearl and Bessie Davidson Ford. He lived in the Claytonville-Willlis area of Brown County. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Emporia State University, Emporia.

Mr. Ford was a member of the Christian Church, Horton. He also was a life member of the DAV and AARP.

He married Dorothy Mae Cameron on Sept. 29, 1940, at Robinson. She survives of the home.

Survivors also include a son, Kenneth Ford, St. Joseph, Mo.; five daughters, Karen Collins, Falls City, Neb., Tonya Kay Banks, Malden, Mo., Janet Price, Grandview, Mo., Virginia Russell, Phoenix, and Frances Ann Pais, Plano, Texas; a brother, Raymond Ford, Springfield, Mo.; 21 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and a great-great- grandson.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Dale Ford.

Mr. Ford donated his body to the KU Medical Center for medical science. No services or visitation are planned. Private inurnment will be later in the Brush Creek Cemetery near Horton.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Christian Church, Horton, which may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 1720 1st Avenue East, Horton, 66439.

Orva Hesse

ST. MARYS --- Orva Dell Hesse, 77, St. Marys, died Monday, Aug. 13, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.

Mrs. Hesse has worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell and had taught school before she was married. She later worked at St. Marys Surplus, St. Marys Manor and the McCall Pattern Co. in St. Marys, and she had cleaned at the Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library, St. Marys.

She was born June 4, 1924, in Westville, Okla., to Elves Trible and Nova Delsey Perkins Collyge. She grew up in the Westville and Stillwell, Okla., areas and graduated from Stillwell High School in 1940. She had lived in the St. Marys community for many years.

Mrs. Hesse was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, St. Marys, where she had been a member of the Altar Society and helped with funeral dinners at the church. She graduated from Menninger's Bible Study class.

She married Felix L. Hesse on Feb. 3, 1951, at Paxico. He survives of the home.

Survivors also include three daughters, Rita Moyer and Karen Suther, both of Topeka, and Judy Cunningham, Valley Falls; two sons, Albert Hesse, Topeka, and Urban Hesse, Frankfort; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, James F. Hesse, on Jan. 15, 1999.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, St. Marys. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys. Mrs. Hesse will lie in state after 2 p.m. today at Piper-Verschelden Funeral Home, St. Marys, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society's Camp Hope, sent in care of Piper-Verschelden Funeral Home, St. Marys.

Alladeen Mills

LAWRENCE --- Alladeen Mills, 80, Lawrence, formerly of Osawatomie, died Monday, Aug. 13, 2001, at a Lawrence retirement village.

She was born Nov. 17, 1920, at Leachville, Ark., to William C. and Nell Gardner Lovelady. She graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1939, then attended Ursuline Academy in Paola for two years.