Obituaries

Dr. J. David Smith O’Dea passed away Feb. 2, 2019. He was born in Ellsworth, Kan. Feb. 17, 1924.
He graduated from Ellsworth  High School in 1942 and received a football scholarship to Fort Hays College where he was a first team quarterback. David joined the Navy in December, 1942 where he was a gunners mate. After the war, in 1945, he received a special teaching certificate for one year. As well as teaching for one year, he also coached before enrolling at Emporia State where he earned his Master of Science in Psychology. Later, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Oregon. After for about 25 years graduating, he was employed with a branch of IBM called Science Research Associates during which time he taught as a visiting professor at University of Notre Dame University, University of Virginia, Oregon State University and University of Miami. In the years to follow he taught at Florida State.

Margaret M. Bennett, 93, passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2019 in Wilson. She was born April 16, 1925 in Clinchco, Va. to Steven and Elizabeth Ramsey.
Margaret married Ralph Bennett on Oct. 29, 1944 in Clintwood, Va. She was a longtime resident of Holyrood where she was a member of the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ and the ladies’ auxiliary. She was a homemaker and a retired supervisor at Elkan in Ellsworth.
Margaret is survived by her sons, Dr. Gerald ‘Jerry’ Bennett (Isabel) of Ocoee, Fla. and Jack Bennett (Denise) of Salina; grandchildren, Sean Bennett (Jasmine), Samantha Burrerll (Josh), and Annabelle Levin; and great-granddaughter, Nora Burrell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph; three sisters and two brothers.
  Private family services will be planned at a later date.
  Memorial contributions may be made to Wilson Care and Rehabilitation Center, in care of Parsons Funeral Home, Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.

Virgil L. Zink, 80, died Feb. 28, 2019, at Ellsworth County Medical Center.  
He was born Aug. 25, 1938, in Great Bend, Kan., the son of Joseph and Marie (Birzer) Zink. Virgil graduated from Bushton High School in 1956.
On June 4, 1960, he married Diane Rabenseifner at the St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz, Kan.
A lifetime farmer and stockman, Virgil started farming at the age of 15 after the death of his father and was still farming at the age of 80.  
He was a faithful husband and father, who loved sports especially watching his kids and grandkids. Virgil also loved western movies especially if they had John Wayne in them.
He was a member of the Holy Name Catholic Church of Bushton and the Knights of Columbus, Council 1187 of Ellinwood.

Bobby Benjamin Boulineau, age 86, of Wrens, Ga., entered into rest Friday Feb. 22, 2019 at his residence.
Private interment services will be held in Ellsworth, Kan.
A native of Jefferson County Georgia, Bobby was the son of William S. and Mozelle Humphrey Boulineau. He was a 1949 graduate of Louisville Academy and after 20 years of service retired from the United States Air Force.
Mr. Boulineau is preceded in death by his parents, and the mother of his children, Essie C. Boulineau.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Dixon Wood Boulineau, of Wrens; sons, Stephen Boulineau, of Oklahoma, Robert Boulineau (Sandy) of Ellsworth, Kan.; grandson, Michael Boulineau, of Oklahoma; step-son, Dwayne Wood, of Wrens; step-daughter, Sissy Wood of California; and many neighbors and friends.
You may sign the family’s personal guestbook online at www.taylorfhlouisville.com.

Rachel Welk-Opfer, 94, passed away Feb. 14, 2019. She was born Dec. 7, 1924 in Kanopolis.
She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Ellsworth, was  a Girl Scout troop leader, a Cub Scout den mother and worked with 4-Hers.
She married Harold Welk, Nov. 20, 1944. He passed away Sept. 15, 1987.
She married Harvey Opfer, Sept. 20, 2008. He passed away in December, 2015.
Survivors include daughters, Maxine (Welk) Strong, Linda (Welk) and David Blevins, Julie (Welk) and Kenneth Blevins; sons, Harold and Kay Welk and Kenneth and Stephanie Welk; 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
A private service will be held. Her body was donated to science

Shawn Wesley Kobbeman, 64, of Lincoln, Kan., passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, in Wichita. He was born June 12, 1954, in Caribou, Maine, to John Calvin and Vivian Joy (Spear) Kobbeman.
Left to celebrate his life include: his wife, Rachelle (Davis) Kobbeman, of the home; son, Trent Kobbeman (Cori McKinney), of Lincoln; daughters, Liberty (Brandon) Taylor, of Omaha, Neb., Jessie (Jayson) Hubbard, of Manhattan; brother, Jeff (Norma) Kobbeman, of Lincoln; four grandchildren, Mackenzie, Jackson, Dorothy, Maverick; and numerous nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Casey; and grandson, Anakin.
The service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at Lincoln United Methodist Church, Lincoln, with fellowship and sharing afterwards at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lincoln United Methodist Church.

Delmar E. Kohls, 74, passed away Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 at his home in Ellsworth. He was born July 19, 1944 in Ellsworth to Emil and Christina (Schmoekel) Kohls.
Delmar was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth where he married Jane Grubb on April 3, 1965. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Vietnam Era. He was a member of the Ellsworth VFW Post 6485 and American Legion Post 174. He spent most of his life as a building contractor working with his brothers at Kohls Construction. He was also a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and a city councilman for 20 years. Upon his retirement from the city council, as a reward for his service, he was given a lifetime membership to the Ellsworth Golf Course, a gift that sparked his late-life passion for golf.

Mona M. Peterman, 92, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019 in Ellsworth. She was born Nov. 8, 1926 in Ellsworth County to William, Sr. and Minnie (Haase) Wachs.
Mona was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County where she married Clarence Peterman on May 25, 1947. She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church of rural Ellsworth where she was the church organist for 50 years and a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Mona was a homemaker and site manager for the Ellsworth Senior Center. She was also a 4-H leader and loved playing cards.

Judith ‘Judy’ Ann Duryee, 77, passed away Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 in Ellsworth. She was born Sept. 20, 1941 in Kansas City, Mo. to Roscoe C. and Josephine M. (Schanz) Bowman.
Judy married Delbert Duryee at Trinity Lutheran Church in Salina on June 6, 1965. She was an elementary school teacher, homemaker, and retired from Post Rock Rural Water District in 2012. Judy was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, American Association of University Women, and KU Alumni Association.
Judy is survived by her husband Delbert of Ellsworth; son, Dean Duryee (Melissia) of Hutchinson; daughters, Donna Petersen (Mark) of Olathe and Janell Murphey (Robert) of Ellsworth; brother, James Bowman (Natalie) of Appleton, WI; and nine grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation is from 1-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m.

Judith ‘Judy’ Ann Duryee

Judith “Judy” Ann Duryee, 77, passed away Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 in Ellsworth. Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth is handling arrangements.
Condolences can be left at parsonsfh.com