Rafail "Ralph" Vega Rafail "Ralph" Vega, 70, Topeka, died Thursday, April 8, 2004, at his home. He was born July 26, 1933, in East Chicago, Ind., to Salvador and Lillian Martinez Vega. Mr. Vega was a decorated member of the Army and Navy from 1950 to 1957. He was a driver with the Topeka City Bus Service for five years....

Donna M. Miller Donna M. Miller, 62, Topeka, died Thursday, April 8, 2004, at Stormont-Vail HealthCare Center. She was born Aug. 11, 1941, in San Francisco, the daughter of Don Long and Floyd and Ella M. (Kenny) Vilvens. Donna graduated from Topeka High School. She worked for K-Mart as a supervisor for 25 years. She married Thunie C. Miller on...

Edith G. Huntsman Edith G. Huntsman, 99, died in Topeka Monday, April 5, 2004. She was born June 21, 1904, in St. Marys, to Ulysses Simpson Grant McClain and Senah Ashton McClain. She was married for 65 years to Charles W. Huntsman, who died in 1990. A daughter, Janice Elaine Jensen, died in 1977. Survivors include a son, Charles David...

Helen M. Bentley Helen M. Bentley, 91, formerly of Topeka, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Colonial Manor in Lansing. She was born July 20, 1912, in Scranton, the daughter of Samuel G. and Agnes M. Andreen Carney. She was reared in the Scranton community. She graduated from the North American Defense School in Kansas City. She moved to Michigan...

Gaylord Eugene Howard Jr. Gaylord Eugene Howard Jr., 33, Topeka, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at a Topeka hospital. He was born April 6, 1971, in Topeka, the son of Gaylord E. Howard Sr. and Jeanie Whitmarsh Sackrider. He graduated from Topeka West High School and was a lifelong Topeka resident. Mr. Howard enjoyed riding his four-wheeler, going fishing and...

Larry Dean Kahler Larry Dean Kahler, 66, Topeka, died Friday, April 2, 2004, at his residence. He was born Sept. 20, 1937, at Del Norte, Colo., the son of George A. and Vera Murray Kahler. He had resided in Topeka most of his life. Mr. Kahler served in the U.S. Navy Seabees from 1955 to 1959. He was a retired...

Lester Neil Smith Sr. WILLARD - Lester Neil Smith Sr., 77, Willard, died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at a Topeka hospital. Mr. Smith worked at the Supply Depot at Forbes Field before he retired. He was born Nov. 2, 1926, in Topeka, the son of Ernest and Robena Shively Smith. He was a member of Rossville Christian Church. He married...

James Harry Lee Rubottom James Harry Lee Rubottom, 68, Topeka, died Thursday, March 25, 2004, at his home. Mr. Rubottom worked as an alcohol and drug counselor for the VA Medical Center in Topeka for 28 years, touching many lives. He was born Dec. 5, 1935, in Sarcoxie, Mo., the son of Darwin Edward and Anna Maretta Cromer Rubottom Sr....

Ford W. Arbogast Ford W. Arbogast, 67, Topeka, died Monday, March 29, 2004, at home after a long illness. He was the son of Wayne and June Arbogast and was born in Shinnston, W. Va., on July 3, 1936. He moved with his family to Topeka in 1942. Ford graduated from Seaman High School in 1954 and married Joan Lindberg...

James Harry Lee Rubottom James Harry Lee Rubottom, 68, Topeka, died Thursday, March 25, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 5, 1935, in Sarcoxie, Mo., the son of Darwin E. Rubottom Sr. and Anna M. Cromer Rubottom. James will lie in state from 3 to 8:30 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel. Funeral services will be at 2...

Lorraine Lori Ann Wellman OZAWKIE Lorraine Lori Ann Wellman, 39, Ozawkie, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at Midland Hospice in Topeka. She was born Dec. 27, 1964, in Topeka, to Jerry and Vicki Burghart. She was a lifelong Topeka resident. Mrs. Wellman was a processing department assistant supervisor with Burrell-Luce Press Clippings for more than 15 years. She was a...

Jacob Alfred "Al" Lower Jacob Alfred "Al" Lower, 91, Topeka, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at an Overbrook nursing home. He was born Aug. 10, 1912, in Fontana, the son of Alfred Baxter and Rose Richart Lower. Mr. Lower was a printer for Adams Business Forms for 44 years, retiring in 1974. He was well-known in the Topeka bowling community....

James T. "Jim" Runyan James "Jim" T. Runyan, 84, Topeka, died on Thursday, March 11, 2004, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. He was born on Oct. 31, 1919, in Horton, the son of Tirey J. and Nettie L. VanHorn Runyan. He was a Topeka resident most of his life. He attended public schools in Topeka. He served in the...

Gerald E. "Jerry" Kimmel Gerald E. "Jerry" Kimmel, 74, Topeka, died Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at St. Francis Health Center in Topeka. He was born Aug. 17, 1929, in Sabetha, to Romeo Wayne and Beulah Geiger Kimmel. He served in the Kansas Army National Guard in Hiawatha and later enlisted in the Air Force prior to the Korean conflict, where...

Margaret Lucille Wheeler Margaret Lucille Wheeler, 74, Topeka, died Sunday, March 7, 2004, in Topeka. She was born March 7, 1930, in Diggins, Mo., the daughter of James and Mammie Cook Owens. Mrs. Wheeler owned and operated the Wheeler Caf in Eudora. She enjoyed gardening and crocheting. She was a woman of very strong faith. She married Thomas Wheeler at...

Beverly Lou Scheele Beverly Lou Scheele, 70, Topeka, died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. She was born Oct. 31, 1933, in Greenleaf, the daughter of Victor R. and Viola M. Eaton Wilson. She graduated from Clay Center High School and attended Clark s Business College. She moved to Topeka in 1952. Mrs. Scheele worked in...

Leona McCreight Leona McCreight, 93, Topeka, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, at a Topeka nursing home. She was born Sept. 2, 1910, in Miami County, the daughter of John W. and Margaret L. Skaggs Baldwin. Mrs. McCreight was a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. She married Joe McCreight on June 23, 1928, in Newton. He died Feb. 26, 1999....

Florence Bellman "Marie" Hendrix ROSSVILLE - Florence "Marie" Bellman Hendrix, 86, St. Joseph, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at a St. Joseph nursing home. She was born May 19, 1917, at Silver Lake, the daughter of Edgar C. and Nettie E. George Bellman. She spent her early life in the Silver Lake area where she graduated from High School....

Mary Opal Hoover Mary Opal Hoover, 91, Topeka, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004, at Manor Health Care Services in Topeka. She worked at Morrell Packing Co. for several years. She was employed most of her working years in medical and dental offices. She retired in 1977. She was born Feb. 25, 1912, in rural Coffey County near old Strawn, the...

Mervyn S. Steele HOYT - Mervyn S. Steele, 70, Hoyt, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 19, 1933, at St. Louis, Mo., the son of James and Alma Barth Steele. An avid golfer and bowler, he was a member of Lake Shawnee Country Club. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years...