Earle Edward Popejoy

Earle Edward Popejoy, 83, of Topeka, passed away Saturday, March 20, 2010.

He was born January 26, 1927, in Chapman, KS, the son of Tarrence Edward and Clara Grace (Earle) Popejoy, Jr.. He was a graduate of Chapman High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946-1949, Army Reserve 1949-1953. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1953 with a BS in Social Work. He was commissioned in the Air Force in 1953, serving until 1958. He worked for the American Red Cross serving as field director in Europe and for the American Cancer Society in Chicago, IL. He was a member of Fairlawn Heights Wesleyan Church, where he served on the board. He completed 22 hours of theology at Wannamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene and volunteered with several community organizations.

Earle married Merlen "Zoan" Cooper on May 17, 1987, at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Topeka. She survives. Other survivors include his sons, David Wayne Popejoy (Debbi), Branson, MO, Douglas Emerson Popejoy (April), Boca Raton, FL and Dana Randell Popejoy (Tammy), Manhattan, KS; step-son, Greg D. Walker (Sue), Belle Plaine, KS; 2 step-daughters, Sonja Corrine Morrone (Scott), Sanford, MI and Michelle Rene Walker, Tulsa, OK; 7 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Clara Belle Endsley on March 11, 2010 and a granddaughter, Sheena Lee Walker.

Funeral ceremonies will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 25, 2010, at the Fairlawn Heights Wesleyan Church, 5400 SW Huntoon, Topeka, 66604. Interment with military honors will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Popejoy will lie in state after 3 p.m., Wednesday at the Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave, Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fairlawn Heights Building Fund, sent in care of Fairlawn Heights Wesleyan Church.