OBITUARIES

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 15, 2004 by Capital-Journal

Granville 'Lee' Ard

Granville "Lee" Ard, 44, Topeka, died Saturday, June 12, 2004, at his home.

He was born Dec. 3, 1959, in Osage City to Harley Merle and Iva Jean Griffin Ard. He was a graduate of Washburn Rural High School.

On July 30, 1982, he married Sandy A. Long in Topeka. She survives.

He was employed as head custodian at Wanamaker Elementary in Topeka.

Survivors include four daughters, Amie E. Ard, Samantha J. Ard, Sonja C. Ard, and Cindy S. Ard, all of Topeka; a granddaughter, Asialynn S. Evans; his parents, of Topeka; four brothers, Merle D. Ard, and C. Michael Ard, of Carbondale, E. David Ard and Richard E. Ard of Topeka; three sisters, Shirley J. McCollum, Silver Lake, Gladys E. Woodyard, Osage City, and E. Marie Culbertson, Carbondale; many nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Agnes Patricia Molinar; a nephew, Bruce Alan Culbertson Jr.; and a niece, Danielle M. Romesburg.

Mr. Ard was cremated. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Davidson Funeral Home. A family visitation will be 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Lee Ard Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home.

John H. Baker

John H. Baker, 74, Topeka, died Saturday, June 12, 2004, at the Colmery-O'Neil VA Hospital.

He was born Nov. 15, 1929, in Waterville, Minn., to Arthur Eugene and Sylvia Freida Brinkman Baker.

Mr. Baker was an Air Force veteran. He retired from the Air Force as a Tech Sgt. He later worked for 18 years as a General Maintenance Technician for the Kansas Neurological Institute.

He married Gertrude Kohl on Dec. 15, 1964. She survives.

Other survivors include four sons, Bobby, Danny, Jimmy and John Baker, all of Wichita Falls, Texas; five daughters, Nancy Baker, Wichita Falls, Texas, Sandy Baker-Adams and her husband, Keith, Ursula Cooper and her husband, Steve, Barbara Strickland and Irene Camfield, all of Topeka; two brothers, Dwight Baker, Greeley, Colo., and Jerry Baker, Arizona; two sisters, Carol Wright, Loveland, Ohio, and Doris Beiwer, North Dakota; and grandchildren.

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Baker will lie in state after 3 p.m. Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel, where family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Blue Team at the Colmery-O'Neil VA Hospital, 2200 S.W. Gage Boulevard, Topeka, 66622.

Online condolences may be made at www.penwellgabel.com.

Carl A. Joost Jr.

Carl A. Joost Jr., 84, Topeka, died Sunday, June 13, 2004, in his home.

Mr. Joost was born on Jan. 17, 1920, at St. Joseph's Hospital in San Francisco to Carl A. Sr. and Mary Doherty Joost.

He graduated from Burlingame High School and San Mateo Junior College in northern California, where he won the Tennis Singles Championship in 1939. He attended the University of Nevada in Reno and was the Nevada State Doubles Champion with his brother, Jack, in 1939.

Mr. Joost served in the Navy, Army and retired from the Air Force in 1961. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant and was the recipient of the United States Air Force Commendation Medal and South Korean Air Force Commendation Medal during the Korean War while stationed at Yokota Air Force Base, Japan.

He was a current member of St. Matthew Catholic Church and a former member of Assumption Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #534 and James W. Gibbons Assembly of the 4th Degree, Philip Ballard Post #1650 of the V.F.W., Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 3.

Mr. Joost was active in tennis in Topeka. He helped initiate the Junior League Tennis program in Topeka and was ranked third in the Missouri Valley Section in 1976.

He married Virginia Lorraine Beaver in Kansas City, Mo., in 1956. She preceded him in death on Feb. 28, 1977. He is also preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Ames, San Francisco.

Survivors include his son, Michael, and wife, Eileen Joost, Tecumseh; a brother, John H. Joost, San Jose, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Branden and Chance Joost, Tecumseh.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Joseph E. Chontos at 2 p.m. Thursday at Assumption Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by Philip Billard Post #1650 of the V.F.W. Mr. Joost will lie in state after 2 p.m. Wednesday at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, where a Knights of Columbus rosary will be recited at 6 p.m., followed by 4th degree chalice ceremony at 6:30 p.m., and a parish rosary at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Carl Joost Scholarship Fund for Tennis at the Topeka Community Foundation, 5431 S.W. 29th, Ste. 300, Topeka, 66614.

Barbara J. McLaughlin

Barbara J. McLaughlin, 73, died Saturday, June 12, 2004, at her home.

She was born Jan. 12, 1931, to Albert Joslin and Lessie Elmida Dove.

She married Ted Leroy McLaughlin on Sept. 7, 1958.

She has eight children, Sharon Moon, Jerry Driskell, Berrymen David Driskell, Carmen Dominguez, Bonnie Compton, Sandra Dustin, Gerldene Smith and William Phillip Driskell; 25 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.