[ Obituary ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 17, 2002 by Capital-Journal

Virgil Beasterfield

Virgil C. Beasterfield, 64, Topeka, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2002, at a Topeka hospital.

Mr. Beasterfield was a machinist for Wilch Manufacturing for 33 years before he retired in November 1999. He also served in the Navy from 1955 to 1961.

He was born Feb. 6, 1938, in Topeka, the son of Conrad Wilhelm and Hilma Alma Schwanke Beasterfield. He was a lifelong Topeka resident.

He married Sylvia Maxine Farmer on Nov. 28, 1960, in Topeka. She preceded him in death.

Survivors include his fiancee, Edra Stroud, Topeka; three daughters, Cheryl Wathen and Vicky Palmer, both of Topeka, and Glenda McGarity, Meriden; two sisters, Delores Quiett, Topeka, and Mildred Luebbe, Mayetta; a brother, Larry Beasterfield, Hoyt; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Parker-Price Mortuary Chapel. Burial with graveside military honors conducted by a Fort Riley Army Detail will be in West Lawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Beasterfield will lie in state after 3 p.m. Monday at the mortuary, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, Kan., 66601-1653.

Esther Braden

Esther Maye Braden, 71, Topeka, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2002, at a Topeka hospital.

Mrs. Braden was a licensed practical nurse in Topeka nursing homes and hospitals until 1992. She owned and operated the Tender Loving Caring Adult Boarding Home in Topeka from 1989 to 1995 and she owned and operated the Rose Second Chance Inc., a non-profit business established in 1992 whose proceeds go to assist the disabled.

She was born Aug. 21, 1930, in Lawrence, the daughter of Harrison H. and Mary Violet Bradley Rose. She lived in Lawrence and Topeka before she moved to Chicago in 1949. She moved back to Topeka in 1951. She lived in Norwalk, Calif., from 1958 until she moved back to Topeka in 1965. She earned a licensed practical nurse certificate at Kaw Valley Trade School in 1968.

She married Charles J. "Jack" Braden on Sept. 18, 1977, in Horton. He survives.

Other survivors include seven sons, Richard P. Schumann Jr., Topeka; Donald L. Schumann, in Germany, Steve A. Schumann, Mesa, Ariz., Stacey W. Schumann, McKinney, Texas, Johnny E. Braden, Fairfax, Va., and Chris E. Braden and Eric D. Braden, both of Topeka; five daughters, Kathie L. Jackson, Greeley, Colo., Barbara A. Butler, Auburn, and Linda L. DeWeese, Cheryl A. Habig and Rana Trost, all of Topeka; two brothers, Samuel Rose, Shepard Ville, Ky., and Phillip Rose, Topeka; four sisters, Hannah King, Topeka, Betty Rose, Littleton, Colo., Dottie Nicholson, Tecumseh, and Vera Logan, Ava, Mo.; 38 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Davidson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery. Mrs. Braden will lie in state at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association and sent in care of the funeral home.

Nelle Carkhuff

Nelle H. Carkhuff, a lifelong Topeka resident, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2002, at a Topeka hospital.

She was the daughter of Samuel J. Hallowell and Bridget "Jett" Lawn Hallowell. She attended Topeka Public Schools and graduated from Topeka High School. She also attended Washburn University.

Mrs. Carkhuff was a member of Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Stormont- Vail Hospital Auxiliary and Topeka Country Club. She served on the board of trustees of the Menninger Foundation for 40 years and was a charter member of Mobile Meals, which later became Meals on Wheels. She also was active in many charitable organizations, including The Capper Foundation, Washburn University Endowment Association, United Way, American Red Cross, Mulvane Art Museum, YWCA, The Villages and the Helping Hands Humane Society.

She married Stacy G. Carkhuff Jr. on Dec. 9, 1944. He died April 9, 1961.

Survivors include four children, Jett Elmer, Sam Carkhuff, Tim Carkhuff and Kate Fowler; and eight grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Episcopal Cathedral. Entombment will be at Mount Hope Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 S.W. 8th St., Topeka, Kan., 66603; or to the United Way of Greater Topeka Inc., 1315 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kan., 66604.

Bruce Carter

Bruce H. Carter, 96, Topeka, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002, in Topeka.

Mr. Carter was an electrical engineer and worked for the Rural Electrification Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 40 years. He had served in offices in Madison, Wis., from 1938 to 1946, in University Park, Md., from 1946 to 1948, and in Topeka since 1948. He retired in 1974.

He was born Nov. 15, 1905, in Zanesville, Ohio, the son of Ora Ivan Carter and Minnie Mae Maxwell. He graduated from high school in Philo, Ohio, and attended Muskingham College in Ohio before he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at Ohio State University.