Obituaries

Celebration of Life A Celebration of Life for Tom Riggs will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Wellington Senior Center, 308 S. Washington, Wellington, KS from 2:00 5:00 p.m.

Edwin Herschel Gressel left this earth without apology or regret on May 29, 2022. Ed always seemed ready for the impossible and the next big thing, but we were not nearly ready for his departure. At the young age of 70, he managed to beat cancer, COVID, a host of oil field accidents and bar fights, and a lifetime of cigarettes and beer, only to ultimately succumb to a rare infliction of a nerve-debilitating condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome. He would have hated this obituary or any obituary - but he also would have agreed he was dead and it didn’t matter what he thought.

Thomas “Tom” Clay Riggs, 77, passed away on May 13, 2022 in Derby, KS in the presence of family. Tom was born on August 21, 1944, to Howard and Frances Riggs in Winfield, KS.

Wanda L. Thornton, formerly of Wellington, Kansas passed away at her home in Winfield, Kansas on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at the age of 94. She was born the daughter of Leslie and Faye (Haskins) Brachear on November 6, 1927 in Arkansas City, Kansas. Wanda and James D. Thornton were united in marriage on September 25, 1949 in Winfield, Kansas. They shared 24 years together before his tragic death in 1973. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from the William Newton Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Winfield.

Ruth Ilene Force DeYoe left this earthly life peacefully at Shawn Manor Nursing Home in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on Thursday, April 21, 2022. Ruth was born in Wellington, Kansas on February 23, 1930, to Walter Russell Force and Alice Esther Wells Force. She graduated from Wellington High School in 1948 followed by one year at College of Emporia. Ruth married high school classmate, Richard Wayne DeYoe, Sr., July 1, 1951, and to that union came four children, Janet, Celia, Kris and Richard “Rick”, Jr.

Ole “O.H.” Holverson passed away at the age of 97, on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at Homestead Assisted Living in Wellington, Kansas. He was born in Cedar Vale, Kansas on July 12, 1924 the son of George and Adelaide (Groene) Holverson. Ole grew up in Cedar Vale, graduating from High School in 1942. In 1944 Ole relocated to Wellington to start his career working for the Santa Fe Railroad as a brakeman

Judy Ann Rixon, of Wellington, Kansas, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2022 at Botkin Health and Rehab in Wellington, Kansas at the age of 78. Judy was born the daughter of Edward and Geraldine (Hartman) Allen on March 5, 1944 in Lusk, Wyoming.

Ralph Gifford III, most recently from Gridley, KS, died after an unexpected illness on March 2nd at the age of 75. He was born in Wellington, KS and took great pride in being a Kansan and all that that entailed. From the blowing wheat fields to the “Rock Chalk” Chant. From the straight, flat roads, ideal for drag racing to the work ethic imbued by working harvest.

Inez (Gonzales) Glamann was born on April 20, 1934 in Walters, Oklahoma to Joe and Sofie (Spino) Gonzales and departed this life on February 23, 2022 in Derby, Kansas at the age of 87. Inez grew up in Walters, Oklahoma and graduated from Walters High School.