Digital Augusta

Augusta, Kansas

2004-07-17
Collection: 2004

Title

2004-07-17

2004-07-18

Subject

Willhoite, Robert B.

Meeks, Robert W. Sr. "Bob"

Description

Obituaries published in the Augusta Daily Gazette

Creator

Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas]

Source

Augusta Historical Museum, Augusta, Kansas

http://augustahistoricalsociety.com

Publisher

Augusta Public Library, Augusta, Kansas, USA

Date

2004-07-19

Rights

In Copyright In Copyright

Published with permission of copyright holder. Further reproduction prohibited.

Format

Clippings

Language

English

Type

application/pdf

Identifier

b9#62 2004



Citation
Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas], “2004-07-17,” Digital Augusta, accessed November 23, 2024, https://augusta.digitalsckls.info/item/1433.
Text

Robert B. Willhoite

Robert B. Willhoite, 93, Augusta, minister, died Saturday, July 17, 2004.
His memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, at the First Baptist Church in Augusta.
Mr. Willhoite was the son of Alberta Minona (Haynes) and Samuel Arthur Willhoite, born Oct. 10, 1910, in Indianapolis, Ind.
He was a man of deep personal faith and a gentle spirit. He loved and was proud of his family. He enjoyed cherished friendships with other residents at Cottonwood Point.
He served American Baptist Churches in S.D., Kans., and Iowa. For five years in the 1950’s, he was director of an inner city mission project in Dayton, Ohio during tense times at the beginning of the civil rights struggle. At one point, a group of people burned a cross in the family’s front yard. That experience strengthened his commitment to justice for everyone.
Mr. Willhoite was a builder. In each church he served, he had a strong commitment to improving and building dynamic children’s ministries.
He believed deeply that an investment in children and a Christian education served the future for the church. In many of the churches he guided campaigns for constructing new church buildings or the renovation and restoration of older buildings.
He was also involved in community projects raising money for a swimming pool and bringing together local leaders to build a nursing care facility. After retirement from active ministry, he served as an interim pastor in many American Baptist Churches in Kansas and Iowa. His last professional position was that of chaplain at Valley of Hope Rehabilitation Center in Augusta. This program was dear to his heart.
While serving a church in Mobridge, S.D., he met the love of his life, Irene Eleanor Samuelson. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on May 22, 1939. They were married 63 years until Irene preceded him in death in 2002.
Survivors are: his three children, Marianne (Arthur) Foster of Lenexa, Charles A. (Cheryl) Willhoite of Newton, Alice J. Willhoite of Dallas, Texas; five beloved grandchildren and their families, Julie and Todd Baker and son Luke of Overland Park; Megan and Brian Lasche and sons, Tyler, Drew, Jonathan, and Jason of Overland Park; David and Kimberly Stelting and daughters, Taylor, Kendall and Logan of Olathe; Tracy and Suzanne Willhoite and sons, Connor and Christopher of Valley Falls; Tara Willhoite and daughter, Briana of Hutchinson; sister, Wanda Tesser (John) of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; cousins, Fern Adele Pfeiffer and Lucille Berg of Seattle, Wash.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the First Baptist Church, 1501 State, Augusta, or the
charity of your choice. Please designate in memory of Robert B. Willhoite.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hillside Funeral Home of Augusta.

Robert W. Meeks Sr.

Robert W. “Bob” Meeks, Sr., 67, Leon, retired Beech Aircraft and Loadcraft employee, died Sunday, July 18, 2004.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at Leon Christian Church. Interment will follow in Leon Cemetery.
Survivors include: wife, Rhoda Mary (Norris) Meeks of Leon; son, Robert James Meeks of Leon; daughter, Kathy Louise Fowler of Grand Prairie, Texas; brother, James Edward Meeks of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Burchard William and Edna Pearl (Wooten) Meeks.
Memorial established with Leon Christian Church.
Carlson Funeral Home of El Dorado is handling the arrangements.

Original Format

Newspaper clippings affixed to loose-leaf notebook page