The Morning Sun
Posted Dec 27, 2011 @ 11:04 PM
PITTSBURG —
Gerald A. Finch, 96, of Pittsburg, and a former longtime Parsons resident, died at 9:33 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. He had lived in Pittsburg the past six years.
He was born April 1, 1915 at Chicago, Illinois, the first of six children born to George C. and Myrle L. (Dunwoody) Finch. He grew up in Iroquois, Illinois and graduated from the nearby Donovan, Illinois High School in 1933. After graduation he moved to Parsons to live with his mother's twin sister, Mrs. E. L. (Myrtle) Hucke and to attend Parsons Junior College, from where he graduated in 1935.
His first job after graduating from the junior college was as a Dairy Heard Improvement tester for the four northeast counties in Kansas. A year later he returned to Parsons and began employment with the Meadow Gold Dairy, delivering milk house to house in a stand up drive truck and horse and wagon.
On January 14, 1942 he began employment with the M-K-T Railroad as a switchman, a job he held until retiring in July of 1975.
His first marriage was to Eugenia (Gene) R. Shears on December 20, 1936 in Parsons. They were the parents of four children and she died on May 20, 1980. Later he married Veneta Morrey and she preceded him in death in 1994. Later marriages were to Marie Kelsey and to Maxine McGuire, who both preceded him in death.
Gerald had a long, active involvement in church and civic activities. He was active in the Methodist Church, beginning with the former Washington Avenue Church, later the Wesley United Methodist Church and finally as a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg. He served in many capacities of committee service in the Parsons churches and as a member of the building committee of the Wesley Church. For nineteen years he taught the Criterion Sunday School Class at the Wesley Church. He had served on the board of directors for "Friendly Acres" in Newton, an adult care center connected with the Methodist Church.
His volunteer work in Boy Scouts spanned over 59 years. He had been a cub scout leader, Scoutmaster, committee chairman, district chairman for eight counties and editor for a district newsletter called "The Peace Pipe" for several years.
He was presented the "Silver Beaver Award", the highest honor that can be given to an adult Scouter.
For fourteen years he was chairman of the Labette County Red Cross Blood program. For thirteen years he was secretary-treasurer of the United Transportation Union. He was a coordinator and volunteer driver for the "Meals on Wheels" program in Parsons for fifteen years. He held several offices in the Labette County A.A.R.P. chapter and for several years was co-chairman of its tour committee, planning and coordinating monthly trips for members.
He was a stamp collector for many years and a woodworker, making several baby beds and other items for family members. In the early 1960's he became an "American Dad" to Japanese foreign exchange student Ayako Shinoto, now of Whittier, California. She and the Finch family have remained close throughout the years.
In 1976 he was awarded the "Cardinal Citation" by the Labette Community College, honoring his long service as a volunteer in many areas.
SURVIVORS – Four children – Allen Finch, Towson, Maryland, Doris Kennedy, Richardson, Texas, Jane Wells, North Liberty, Iowa, Carol Hornback, Pittsburg; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren.
Also preceding him in death was a brother, Donald Finch, and four sisters, Alice McCormick, Mildred Allen, Dorothy Weidenbach and Florence Johnson.
MEMORIAL SERVICES – will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial was at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop # 33. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com
Posted Dec 27, 2011 @ 11:04 PM
PITTSBURG —
Gerald A. Finch, 96, of Pittsburg, and a former longtime Parsons resident, died at 9:33 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. He had lived in Pittsburg the past six years.
He was born April 1, 1915 at Chicago, Illinois, the first of six children born to George C. and Myrle L. (Dunwoody) Finch. He grew up in Iroquois, Illinois and graduated from the nearby Donovan, Illinois High School in 1933. After graduation he moved to Parsons to live with his mother's twin sister, Mrs. E. L. (Myrtle) Hucke and to attend Parsons Junior College, from where he graduated in 1935.
His first job after graduating from the junior college was as a Dairy Heard Improvement tester for the four northeast counties in Kansas. A year later he returned to Parsons and began employment with the Meadow Gold Dairy, delivering milk house to house in a stand up drive truck and horse and wagon.
On January 14, 1942 he began employment with the M-K-T Railroad as a switchman, a job he held until retiring in July of 1975.
His first marriage was to Eugenia (Gene) R. Shears on December 20, 1936 in Parsons. They were the parents of four children and she died on May 20, 1980. Later he married Veneta Morrey and she preceded him in death in 1994. Later marriages were to Marie Kelsey and to Maxine McGuire, who both preceded him in death.
Gerald had a long, active involvement in church and civic activities. He was active in the Methodist Church, beginning with the former Washington Avenue Church, later the Wesley United Methodist Church and finally as a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg. He served in many capacities of committee service in the Parsons churches and as a member of the building committee of the Wesley Church. For nineteen years he taught the Criterion Sunday School Class at the Wesley Church. He had served on the board of directors for "Friendly Acres" in Newton, an adult care center connected with the Methodist Church.
His volunteer work in Boy Scouts spanned over 59 years. He had been a cub scout leader, Scoutmaster, committee chairman, district chairman for eight counties and editor for a district newsletter called "The Peace Pipe" for several years.
He was presented the "Silver Beaver Award", the highest honor that can be given to an adult Scouter.
For fourteen years he was chairman of the Labette County Red Cross Blood program. For thirteen years he was secretary-treasurer of the United Transportation Union. He was a coordinator and volunteer driver for the "Meals on Wheels" program in Parsons for fifteen years. He held several offices in the Labette County A.A.R.P. chapter and for several years was co-chairman of its tour committee, planning and coordinating monthly trips for members.
He was a stamp collector for many years and a woodworker, making several baby beds and other items for family members. In the early 1960's he became an "American Dad" to Japanese foreign exchange student Ayako Shinoto, now of Whittier, California. She and the Finch family have remained close throughout the years.
In 1976 he was awarded the "Cardinal Citation" by the Labette Community College, honoring his long service as a volunteer in many areas.
SURVIVORS – Four children – Allen Finch, Towson, Maryland, Doris Kennedy, Richardson, Texas, Jane Wells, North Liberty, Iowa, Carol Hornback, Pittsburg; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren.
Also preceding him in death was a brother, Donald Finch, and four sisters, Alice McCormick, Mildred Allen, Dorothy Weidenbach and Florence Johnson.
MEMORIAL SERVICES – will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial was at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop # 33. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com
The Morning Sun
Posted Dec 27, 2011 @ 11:04 PM
PITTSBURG —
Gerald A. Finch, 96, of Pittsburg, and a former longtime Parsons resident, died at 9:33 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. He had lived in Pittsburg the past six years.
He was born April 1, 1915 at Chicago, Illinois, the first of six children born to George C. and Myrle L. (Dunwoody) Finch. He grew up in Iroquois, Illinois and graduated from the nearby Donovan, Illinois High School in 1933. After graduation he moved to Parsons to live with his mother's twin sister, Mrs. E. L. (Myrtle) Hucke and to attend Parsons Junior College, from where he graduated in 1935.
His first job after graduating from the junior college was as a Dairy Heard Improvement tester for the four northeast counties in Kansas. A year later he returned to Parsons and began employment with the Meadow Gold Dairy, delivering milk house to house in a stand up drive truck and horse and wagon.
On January 14, 1942 he began employment with the M-K-T Railroad as a switchman, a job he held until retiring in July of 1975.
His first marriage was to Eugenia (Gene) R. Shears on December 20, 1936 in Parsons. They were the parents of four children and she died on May 20, 1980. Later he married Veneta Morrey and she preceded him in death in 1994. Later marriages were to Marie Kelsey and to Maxine McGuire, who both preceded him in death.
Gerald had a long, active involvement in church and civic activities. He was active in the Methodist Church, beginning with the former Washington Avenue Church, later the Wesley United Methodist Church and finally as a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg. He served in many capacities of committee service in the Parsons churches and as a member of the building committee of the Wesley Church. For nineteen years he taught the Criterion Sunday School Class at the Wesley Church. He had served on the board of directors for "Friendly Acres" in Newton, an adult care center connected with the Methodist Church.
His volunteer work in Boy Scouts spanned over 59 years. He had been a cub scout leader, Scoutmaster, committee chairman, district chairman for eight counties and editor for a district newsletter called "The Peace Pipe" for several years.
He was presented the "Silver Beaver Award", the highest honor that can be given to an adult Scouter.
For fourteen years he was chairman of the Labette County Red Cross Blood program. For thirteen years he was secretary-treasurer of the United Transportation Union. He was a coordinator and volunteer driver for the "Meals on Wheels" program in Parsons for fifteen years. He held several offices in the Labette County A.A.R.P. chapter and for several years was co-chairman of its tour committee, planning and coordinating monthly trips for members.
He was a stamp collector for many years and a woodworker, making several baby beds and other items for family members. In the early 1960's he became an "American Dad" to Japanese foreign exchange student Ayako Shinoto, now of Whittier, California. She and the Finch family have remained close throughout the years.
In 1976 he was awarded the "Cardinal Citation" by the Labette Community College, honoring his long service as a volunteer in many areas.
SURVIVORS – Four children – Allen Finch, Towson, Maryland, Doris Kennedy, Richardson, Texas, Jane Wells, North Liberty, Iowa, Carol Hornback, Pittsburg; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren.
Also preceding him in death was a brother, Donald Finch, and four sisters, Alice McCormick, Mildred Allen, Dorothy Weidenbach and Florence Johnson.
MEMORIAL SERVICES – will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial was at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop # 33. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com
Posted Dec 27, 2011 @ 11:04 PM
PITTSBURG —
Gerald A. Finch, 96, of Pittsburg, and a former longtime Parsons resident, died at 9:33 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. He had lived in Pittsburg the past six years.
He was born April 1, 1915 at Chicago, Illinois, the first of six children born to George C. and Myrle L. (Dunwoody) Finch. He grew up in Iroquois, Illinois and graduated from the nearby Donovan, Illinois High School in 1933. After graduation he moved to Parsons to live with his mother's twin sister, Mrs. E. L. (Myrtle) Hucke and to attend Parsons Junior College, from where he graduated in 1935.
His first job after graduating from the junior college was as a Dairy Heard Improvement tester for the four northeast counties in Kansas. A year later he returned to Parsons and began employment with the Meadow Gold Dairy, delivering milk house to house in a stand up drive truck and horse and wagon.
On January 14, 1942 he began employment with the M-K-T Railroad as a switchman, a job he held until retiring in July of 1975.
His first marriage was to Eugenia (Gene) R. Shears on December 20, 1936 in Parsons. They were the parents of four children and she died on May 20, 1980. Later he married Veneta Morrey and she preceded him in death in 1994. Later marriages were to Marie Kelsey and to Maxine McGuire, who both preceded him in death.
Gerald had a long, active involvement in church and civic activities. He was active in the Methodist Church, beginning with the former Washington Avenue Church, later the Wesley United Methodist Church and finally as a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg. He served in many capacities of committee service in the Parsons churches and as a member of the building committee of the Wesley Church. For nineteen years he taught the Criterion Sunday School Class at the Wesley Church. He had served on the board of directors for "Friendly Acres" in Newton, an adult care center connected with the Methodist Church.
His volunteer work in Boy Scouts spanned over 59 years. He had been a cub scout leader, Scoutmaster, committee chairman, district chairman for eight counties and editor for a district newsletter called "The Peace Pipe" for several years.
He was presented the "Silver Beaver Award", the highest honor that can be given to an adult Scouter.
For fourteen years he was chairman of the Labette County Red Cross Blood program. For thirteen years he was secretary-treasurer of the United Transportation Union. He was a coordinator and volunteer driver for the "Meals on Wheels" program in Parsons for fifteen years. He held several offices in the Labette County A.A.R.P. chapter and for several years was co-chairman of its tour committee, planning and coordinating monthly trips for members.
He was a stamp collector for many years and a woodworker, making several baby beds and other items for family members. In the early 1960's he became an "American Dad" to Japanese foreign exchange student Ayako Shinoto, now of Whittier, California. She and the Finch family have remained close throughout the years.
In 1976 he was awarded the "Cardinal Citation" by the Labette Community College, honoring his long service as a volunteer in many areas.
SURVIVORS – Four children – Allen Finch, Towson, Maryland, Doris Kennedy, Richardson, Texas, Jane Wells, North Liberty, Iowa, Carol Hornback, Pittsburg; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren.
Also preceding him in death was a brother, Donald Finch, and four sisters, Alice McCormick, Mildred Allen, Dorothy Weidenbach and Florence Johnson.
MEMORIAL SERVICES – will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial was at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop # 33. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com
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