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April 21st, 2015


DEATHS & SERVICES
AUGUSTA
George E. Van, 87
George E. Van, 87, Retired Lieutenant Commander USNR passed away Friday, April 17, 2015 in El Dorado.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 24,2015, at First United Methodist Church in Augusta.
He was born in Huntsville, Ark., on July 4,1926, and moved to Kansas City, Kan. with his parents, Edward M. Van and Mamie (Martin) Van in 1930, where he attended public schools, graduating from Wyandotte High School in 1942. He worked in the trucking business and attended junior college till he enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1944.
In June 1946 he entered the Naval Academy with a fleet appointment, graduating with the Class of 1950. After graduation he served on various ships and stations until leaving active duty in 1961 and served in the Naval Reserves until retiring in 1971. In 1953 while homeported at Pearl Harbor he married Joanne Travis, formerly of Fort Morgan, Co, and they had two sons, George (Marlene) of Pacifica, Calif. and Edward of Augusta. After leaving active duty he and his family settled in the San Francisco Bay Area where he was self-employed and also spent several years in the insurance business and finally in construction till he retired in 1991. In 1993 he and Joanne moved to Lusby, MD. where he became active as a volunteer in the Naval Institute oral history program and also as a volunteer tax preparer in the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. In 2005 he and Jo moved to Augusta to be near their son, Ed. George was a story teller
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and he entertained classmates, family and friends, admitting that only some of the stories were true. He and Jo were best friends and shared a lot of laughs for nearly 61 years. He will be missed for his ever ready smile and his droll sense of humor.
He was predeceased by his parents and his beloved Jo.
He is survived by his sons.
He has been cremated and will be re- united with Jo at the Naval Academy Columbarium at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers memorials to First United Methodist Church in Augusta and Augusta Community Caring Center.
Locally Owned by Clint & Cherie Headley
Headley
Funeral Chapel
813 State Street Augusta, KS 67010
AUGUSTA
April 29th 2015
Merle D. Toon, 75
Merle Dean Toon, 75, Augusta, passed away Sunday, April 26, 2015.
Visitation from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, at Headley Funeral Chapel and service 1p.m. Thursday, April 30, 2015, at Central Baptist Church.
Graveside service will follow at 4 p.m. at Grace Lawn Cemetery, Howard.
Merle was bom in Fredonia on Oct. 27, 1939, to the late Vera Ruthelia (Lewis) and H. Jack Toon. He served in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a truck driver, a pastor for 20 years, and later he was employed at the Augusta Dillons fuel center as manager. On Feb. 14,2009 he married Martha (Heberly) Barnes, who survives him.
He is also survived by: daughters, Michele Zavala of Arkansas City and Malinda Tristani and husband Carlos of Middleberg, Fla.; sons, Melvin Toon and wife Charity of Arkansas City and Martin Toon of Everett, Wash.; brother, Tommy Toon and wife Ruby of Tulsa, Okla.;
sister, Patsy Foster of Wichita; step sons, Keith Barnes and wife Sharon of El Dorado and Roger, and wife Aletha Barnes, of Augusta; 9 grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 3 step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Rebecca (Berner) Toon and son, Merle Toon, Jr..
Memorial donations to Central Baptist Church, 7421 SW Church Road Augusta, KS 67010.
Locally Owned by Clint & CHerie Headley
Funeral Chapel
813 State Street Augusta, KS 67010 775-7778