In Memory: Fall 2023

1940s

Barbara Johnson Bishop, c’46, c’48, Longview, Washington, 98, March 15. Barbara was a physical therapist and cookbook author. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred.

Robert Dalton, e’49, Overland Park, 96, April 19. Bob, a U.S. Army veteran, was an electrical engineer and worked for Bendix Corp. for 43 years. His wife, Marty, preceded him in death.

William Myers, c’49, g’55, PhD’58, Bel Air, Maryland, 99, June 8. Bill, a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran, taught microbiology and was a researcher at the University of Maryland for over 35 years. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Johnson Myers, c’49.

Phyllis Struble, c’43, Glasco, 100, Aug. 19. Phyllis taught high school biology in Beloit for 40 years.

1950s

Robert Blincoe, b’50, Lodi, California, 95, Feb. 4, 2023. Robert worked for the William Volker Co., a home furnishings company. His wife, Marilyn Gibson Blincoe, ’51, preceded him in death.

James Davidson, ’52, Overland Park, 92, May 9. Jim, a U.S. Navy veteran, was a Trans World Airlines captain and flight instructor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Emelie Trickett Davidson, ’52.

Fredrica “Freddie” Voiland Everett, d’56, Manhattan, 88, May 5. Freddie taught music in the Manhattan school district for 25 years.

Shirley Holmes, c’54, Pearland, Texas, 90, Nov. 28, 2022. Shirley practiced law in Houston.

Albert Jackson Jr., b’50, Austin, Texas, 98, May 2. Albert, a U.S. Navy veteran, founded Consumers Sand Co. He is survived by his wife, Vivian.

Edward Jones, c’57, m’61, Great Bend, 88, June 6. Edward served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a pathologist at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend for over 45 years. His first wife, Barbara Blount Jones, f’56, preceded him in death. He is survived by his second wife, Debbie.

Mary Ann Woods Lancaster, c’52, Springfield, Virginia, 93, July 14. Her husband, Robert, preceded her in death.

Joseph Lastelic, j’52, Alexandria, Virginia, 93, Aug. 27. Joseph was a longtime political reporter for The Kansas City Star. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 30 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carroll.

John “Jack” Leatherman, d’59, Lawrence, 89, May 2. Jack was store director at Falley’s/Food 4 Less in Lawrence and later director of operations for over 40 stores. He is survived by his wife, Lois.

Arlene Lutz Levin, d’55, Sun City, Arizona, 91, June 3. Arlene was a teacher and school librarian. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry.

Janice Howden Lutz, c’59, d’60, Lawrence, 85, May 24. Janice was a high school English teacher. She is survived by her husband, Fred, e’59, e’60.

Marilyn Riffer McKenzie, f’51, Chanhassen, Minnesota, 92, June 18. Marilyn taught elementary school. Her husband, Richard, preceded her in death.

Arthur Nease Jr., b’54, Abilene, 91, July 3. Art, a U.S. Navy veteran, was president of State Exchange Bank in Barnes for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Sorem Nease, d’56.

Alice Sellers Ochs, c’52, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 92, April 6. Alice was a physical therapist and sculptor. She is survived by her husband, Harlan, b’50.

Lewis Phillips, e’55, Lawrence, 89, May 5. Throughout his career, Lew worked for Ethyl Corp., U.S. Borax, Southwest Forest Industries, United Vintners and Georgia-Pacific. His wife, Carolyn Husted Phillips, d’55, preceded him in death.

Joseph Sparks, PhD’56, Fort Bragg, California, 96, Nov. 26, 2022. Joe, a U.S. Army veteran, was a physicist and, with his wife, Ruth, founded a travel agency.

Charles “Ken” Spencer, c’58, Fairway, 86, April 23. Ken served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later owned a stock brokerage firm. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette Hallman Spencer, d’59.

Grayce Wycoff Spencer, d’52, Iola, 92, Feb. 23, 2023. Her husband, Ivan, preceded her in death.

Sue Grosjean Wilcox, c’53, g’56, Paradise Valley, Arizona, 89, May 26.

Richard Wilson, j’53, St. James, Missouri, 91, Nov. 11, 2022. Richard was a newspaper owner and business manager. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Boydston Wilson, n’53.

Joseph Wolfe, c’53, Prairie Village, 93, April 29. Joe worked in sales for Sheffield Steel and later New York Life. He is survived by his wife, Char.

1960s

Nancy Meyer Barber, d’62, Leawood, 82, June 28. Nancy owned The Daffodil, a women’s clothing store in Kirksville, Missouri, for over 20 years.

Robert Cherner, c’69, Phoenix, 75, May 31. Bob and his wife, Linda Westphal Cherner, c’72, c’72, owned Silver & Cherner, a health care association management company, for over 20 years.

George Coleman II, g’60, Waterville, Maine, 89, April 1. George was the registrar at Colby College in Waterville for 40 years.

Herbert Cooper, c’60, m’64, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 85, June 17. Herb, a U.S. Air Force veteran, was a professor and researcher in the school of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is survived by his wife, Karen Groe Cooper, d’61.

Donald Davis, d’67, Olathe, 78, Aug. 7. Don, a former KU football player, was a high school teacher and football coach for over 25 years. He is survived by his wife, Pam.

Ronald “Bill” Hatfield, p’63, Dodge City, 83, April 27. Bill co-owned The Prescription Center & Gift Gallery in Dodge City. He is survived by his wife, Connie Ogden Hatfield, ’63.

Judy Woods Marshall, d’65, Fort Scott, 85, July 14; and Bob Marshall, e’60, Fort Scott, 85, Sept. 20. Judy was an author of short stories and books. Bob, a four-sport athlete at KU, was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and commercial pilot. He later served in the Kansas Senate.

Marilyn Martin, c’66, Rockville, Maryland, 79, July 5. Marilyn worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for over 35 years.

David McDonald, c’69, North Chesterfield, Virginia, 75, Dec. 12, 2022. David served in the U.S. Army and was later a technical services librarian at a law firm.

John Mitchell III, c’62, m’66, Rochester, Minnesota, 83, May 19. John, a U.S. Air Force veteran, worked in internal medicine and nephrology at the Mayo Clinic for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Ann Bell Mitchell, d’61.

Dale Rings, b’62, Sun Lakes, Arizona, 82, April 9. Dale was a health care administrator and worked for the Mayo Clinic for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, Penny.

Bill Smith, d’60, Seattle, 84, March 4. Bill was a pastor in the United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Goering Smith, c’67.

Wanda Peltier Stapleton, g’65, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 90, July 26. Wanda was an activist and served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for 10 years. Her husband, Robert, preceded her in death.

Jane Tusten, d’65, Lawrence, 79, April 11. Jane was an elementary school teacher.

Paul Walter, PhD’60, Savannah, Georgia, 88, June 25. Paul was professor emeritus of chemistry at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. He is survived by his wife, Grace Carpenter Walter, c’57.

Gayle Ward, d’60, Overland Park, 86, June 17. Gayle was a secretary for General Foods Corp. for over 20 years.

1970s

Lynn Souza Beckers, d’75, g’82, Visalia, California, 74, April 26. Lynn was a journalist and later an attorney. She is survived by her husband, Gerry.

Joyce Haun Ferris, ’76, Shawnee, 68, July 31. Joyce worked in the travel industry and later for the Shawnee Mission School District. She is survived by her husband, Ron.

Perrin Hannah Jr., c’70, Keller, Texas, 74, Oct. 27, 2022.

Gene Land, j’76, Greenwood, Missouri, 69, May 4. Gene founded HSC Industrial Coatings and was a youth baseball coach. He is survived by his wife, Michelle.

Janet Epperson Nichols, ’72, Lenexa, 79, May 8. Janet taught junior high and high school and was a school counselor. She is survived by her husband, Charles, g’70, EdD’79.

Dan Reeder, j’71, g’74, Weatherford, Texas, 74, Sept. 20. Dan was editor of Kansas Alumni magazine and later owned Reeder & Co., an advertising, design and consulting firm in Lawrence. He is survived by his wife, Janet Pringle Reeder, d’72.

Aurora McCormick Ripley, c’77, Aurora, Colorado, 93, Sept. 15.

1980s

Betty Baron, ’88, Lawrence, 80, April 28. Betty served in the Peace Corps and taught English as a second language. She was later a Peace Corps campus recruiter at KU. She is survived by her husband, Frank.

Mary Beaven Komosa, n’84, Lenexa, 62, Aug. 3. Mary was a nurse in The University of Kansas Health System. She is survived by her husband, James, c’92.

Susan Daicoff Mango, c’86, Lawrence, 60, Sept. 22. Susan was an event director in the hospitality industry and later director of development at the Lied Center. She is survived by her husband, Joe.

John Weaver, j’83, Steilacoom, Washington, 62, June 25. John served 23 years on active duty in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and later as a Green Beret. He is survived by his wife, Becky.

University community

John Boulton, PhD’74, Lawrence, 87, Sept. 25. John was professor emeritus of flute and taught at KU for 40 years. His wife, Carole Carstens Boulton, ’73, preceded him in death.

Carl Burkhead, g’64, PhD’66, Lawrence, 88, Sept. 7. Carl was professor emeritus in the School of Engineering, where he taught for over 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Joyce.

R. Steve Dick, j’82, Perry, 76, July 6. Steve, a U.S. Army veteran, was a photojournalist at KU for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Bergin Dick, ’80.

Marc Fey, Overland Park, 71, Sept. 12. Marc was professor emeritus in the department of hearing and speech at KU Medical Center. His wife, Sandy, preceded him in death.

Robert Giles, Traverse City, Michigan, 90, Aug. 7. Bob, a prominent newspaper editor and publisher, taught as a professional-in-residence in the School of Journalism. His wife, Nancy, preceded him in death.

Norma Henley, ’79, Lawrence, 80, July 4. Norma worked in admissions for the University for many years. She is survived by her husband, Jerry.

Ruth Hillers, c’86, Stover, Missouri, 83, Dec. 22, 2022. Ruth worked with graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences for nearly 30 years.

Randy Kern, ’87, Berryton, 68, July 27. Randy worked for the KU police department for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Tracy.

Leo Langlois, ’76, Lawrence, 93, Oct. 7. Leo, a U.S. Air Force veteran, worked in the KU comptroller’s office for over 25 years. His wife, Ramona, preceded him in death.

Wayne Osness, assoc., Lawrence, 90, Oct. 4. Wayne was professor emeritus in the department of health, sport & exercise sciences. His wife, Donna Murray Osness, d’73, g’76, EdD’80, preceded him in death.

N. Maxine Patterson, assoc., Lawrence, 87, March 30. Maxine worked at Watkins Health Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob.

Lew Perkins, Lawrence, 78, July 18. Lew was athletics director at KU from 2003 to 2010. He is survived by his wife, Gwen.

James Peters, assoc., Lawrence, 71, Sept. 4. Jim was director of marketing for KU Continuing Education and later director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He is survived by his husband, Gary Mohrman.

Daniel Sodders, g’88, PhD’97, Lawrence, 60, July 29. Daniel was a library associate at KU Libraries, where he worked for over 25 years. He is survived by his wife, Joy.

Flora Wyatt, ’82, Crozet, Virginia, 88, Sept. 25. Flora taught in the School of Education & Human Sciences for over 35 years. She is survived by her husband, Benji, p’57.

Associates

Charles Hughes, assoc., Olathe, 71, May 16. Charlie worked in banking and was later an insurance agent. He is survived by his wife, Susie.