Kurt Kurdziel Kurt B. Kurdziel, 49, Topeka, died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at his home.Mr. Kurdziel was a store manager at Venture for more than 10 years until the store closed. He later managed Office Max for three years and then a Dollar General store.He was born Sept. 28, 1953, in Topeka, to Frank Bernard and Lois Marie Housknect Kurdziel....

Ruby Baldwin Ruby Pearl Baldwin, 60, died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at a Phoenix hospice.Mrs. Baldwin had worked in movie theaters and in the restaurant business as a young woman and later was a nurse at St. Francis Hospital for 23 years before retiring in 1998.She was born Jan. 23, 1943, in Hoisington, to Ralph Henry and Maggie Irene Bechtold...

Kurt Kurdziel Kurt B. Kurdziel, 49, Topeka, died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at his home.Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Parker-Price Mortuary. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.Memorial contributions may be made to the Jeffrey and Sara Kurdziel Educational Fund, 4141 N.W. 43rd, Topeka, 66618.

Danny Barkyoumb Danny L. Barkyoumb, 48, Topeka, was found dead Friday, Feb. 21, 2003, at his home.Mr. Barkyoumb had been self-employed for the past 10 years. He earlier had been employed at Hamms and Bettis Asphalt Construction.He was born Oct. 17, 1954, at Onaga, the son of Jerrold L. and Dixie L. Graf Barkyoumb. He graduated from Seaman High School...

Margaret Covert Margaret O. Covert, 85, Topeka, died Friday, Feb. 21, 2003, in Topeka.Mrs. Covert was a meat wrapper for Sutton's Grocery for several years.She was born Oct. 15, 1917, in Gretna, Neb., to Harve and Ethel Ora Boob Addleman.Mrs. Covert was a member of the Church of Christ at Highland Park.She married Raymond B. Covert on Dec. 31, 1937,...

Aleta Barney Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Parker-Price Mortuary for Aleta N. Barney, 84, Topeka, who died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at home.She was born July 25, 1918, in Hoisington, to Alois and Ethel Tickel Bosch, and spent most of her life in Topeka. She was a secretary and had worked for Josten's Printing and Publishing for...

Bill Shepherd Sr. William R. "Bill" Shepherd Sr., 64, Topeka, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2003, at home.Mr. Shepherd was a police officer in Sidney, Ohio, and later was a maintenance supervisor for Hankamers Construction in Topeka. He worked for most the freight lines in Topeka as a driver and in dispatch. He worked for Tomco and Larry Meiers trucking for...

Lillian E. St. Louis Lillian Elizabeth St. Louis, 95, Topeka, died Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, at her home.Mrs. St. Louis worked for Security Benefit Life for 14 years in the 1930s and 1940s. She later provided child care in her home for many years.She was born Dec. 27, 1907, in Topeka, the daughter of Fred C. and Pearl Elizabeth Martin...

Vivian Mier Vivian V. Mier, 86, Topeka, died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, at a Topeka hospital.Mrs. Mier and her husband farmed in the Lancaster area until 1948 and they later served as superintendent of Oak Hill Cemetery in Atchison until 1965 and then of the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence until 1986, the last 14 years of which she performed...

Larry Purvis Larry D. Purvis, 65, Topeka, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, at a Topeka care facility.Mr. Purvis worked in Bob's Body Shop for several years and he owned and operated Larry's Body Shop for many years.He was born Aug. 24, 1937, in Lawrence, to Gilbert and Rachel Stout Purvis. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1956 and moved...

Thelma Hagen Thelma L. Hagen, 83, Topeka, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in Topeka.Mrs. Hagen was a legal secretary for the state of Kansas and later for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. She also owned a hardware store with her husband in Havensville.She was born March 9, 1919, in Mayetta, the daughter of Howard Elbert and Lillian Marie Reynolds Ray. She...

Sarah Howerton ESKRIDGE -- Sarah Lou Howerton, 70, Eskridge, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at an Eskridge care home.Ms. Howerton had been a model for Macy's and a secretary for the Capper Foundation.She was born Dec. 9, 1932, in Oskaloosa, the daughter of George Allen and Daisy May Soyer Colgrove.She married Frankie G. Howerton on Sept. 29, 1949, in Topeka....

Milford Wuerflein Milford Loyal Wuerflein, 46, Topeka, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, at his home. He had cancer.He was born June 2, 1956, in Albert Lea, Minn., to Jerome George and Audrey Ann Nordland Wuerflein. He spent his first 16 years in Emmons, Minn., and graduated from high school in Pella, Iowa, in 1974. He moved to Topeka, where he...

John Murrell John Milton Murrell, 84, Topeka, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, at a Topeka retirement home.He was born Aug. 11, 1918, in Topeka, to James Howard and Edna Pearl Slaybaugh Murrell, and attended Topeka public schools. He was a chef for Hoofer's Dinner House in Topeka for many years. He also worked at Robbie's Restaurant and later was manager...

Marguerite Clark Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Parker-Price Mortuary for Marguerite R. Clark, 79, Auburn. She died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at a Topeka hospice.Ms. Clark was a supervisor for the Kansas Motor Vehicle Department.She was born Dec. 16, 1923, in Maple Hill, to Clarence M. and Elizabeth Busch-Wood Clark. She moved to Auburn in 1976.Ms. Clark...

Ronald Lee Smith Ronald Lee Smith, 64, Topeka, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, in Topeka.Mr. Smith was a freight clerk for the Santa Fe-Burlington Northern Railroad for 40 years before retiring in July 1999. He served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1959 and was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and Good Conduct medal.He was born July...

Paul Shackelford Paul David Shackelford, 55, Topeka, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at a Kansas City, Kan., hospital.Mr. Shackelford owned A-1 City Cab Co. in Lawrence, and he was a maintenance mechanic for FMC in Lawrence. He also was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.He married Janet S. Reynolds Willis on Feb. 2, 2000, in Miami, Okla. She survives.Other...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Peggy Ditch Peggy J. Ditch, 73, Topeka, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at a Topeka hospital.Mrs. Ditch owned and operated Ditch Trash Service.She was born July 22, 1929, in Topeka, to Raymond John and Virginia Martha Douglas Taylor.Mrs. Ditch was a member of Northland Christian Church.She married Warren Bert Ditch Sr. on Jan. 12, 1947, in Lyndon. He died May...

Charles Whitmarsh Sr. Charles E. "Whit" Whitmarsh Sr., 79, Topeka, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, in Springfield, Mo.Mr. Whitmarsh owned and operated Mike's Used Cars for more than 20 years, and he had worked for several automobile dealers in Topeka. He served in the Navy as a Seaman second class during World War II. He was decorated with the World...

J. June Henoch J. June Henoch, 83, Topeka, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, in Topeka.Mrs. Henoch taught music and elementary education in Enterprise and the Seaman school district in Topeka. She also worked as an aide in the Kansas Legislature.Mrs. Henoch was born June 13, 1919, in Netawaka, the daughter of Walter and Marie Shannon Cochren. She had lived in...