In Memoriam: Spring 2021

Gate by the Boyd Center

Oct. 2020 – April 1, 2021

Rodney Paul Alewine, ’88, 55, Nov. 30, 2020, Oak Grove, Missouri. Survivors include his brother Kevin Alewine, ’86.

Andrea Joan (Donnell) Alexander, ’55, 88, Alpha Chi Omega, Feb. 19, 2021, Overland Park, Kansas. Survivors include her husband, Jack Alexander, ’54.

David Balsters, ’04 MSSL, 59, Nov. 20, 2020, Derby, Kansas.

Kent Beisner, ’93 BBA, 70, Nov. 28, 2020, Lawrence, Kansas.

Donald E. Benson, ’95 BSN, 75, Jan. 20, 2021, Topeka, Kansas.

Ruth E. Brown, ’43, 99, Feb. 26, 2021, Dekalb, Illinois.

Cindy Brull, ’93, 62, Jan. 29, 2021, Shawnee, Kansas.

Linda (Townsend) Burton, ’78, 64, Feb. 9, 2021, Joliet, Illinois. Survivors include her husband, Lyndle Burton, ’78, and daughter Heidi (Burton) Cole, ’03.

William Buxton, ’58, Kappa Sigma, 85, Jan. 4, 2021, Topeka, Kansas.

Teresa Key Carver, ’70, 72, Jan. 20, 2021, Perry, Kansas.

Mary R. (Collingwood) Clawson, ’54, 88, Phi Mu, Dec. 29,2020, Meade, Kansas. Survivors include her daughter Marilyn (Clawson) Giles, ’83, sister Martha (Collingwood) Barnhardt ’57, and brother-in-law Dr. Gordon Barnhardt, Jr., ’58.

Bernard J. Cline, former student, 53, Feb. 9, 2021, Kansas City, Missouri.

Bill Lee Collins, former student, 85, March 15, 2021, Ottawa, Kansas.

Patricia Jane (Lamb) Couch, ’49, 92, Zeta Tau Alpha, Oct. 27, 2020, Flippin, Arkansas.

C. Neil Crane, ’59, 84, Zeta Chi, Nov. 24, 2020, Lyons, Kansas.

Robert L. Crockett, ’97 MAED, 74, Dec. 21, 2020, Springfield, Missouri.

Melissa A. Davis, ’15 MSSL, 36, Dec. 25, 2020, Goddard, Kansas.

Donald W. Davis, ’55, 89, Zeta Chi, Feb. 6, 2021, Kansas City, Missouri.

Karen (Eisiminger) Every, ’61, 80, Zeta Tau Alpha, Oct. 27, 2020, Golden, Missouri. Survivors include her husband, Harrold R. Every, ’61, and daughter Kerri (Every) Allen, ’88.

John E. Fischer, former student, 79, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sept. 21, 2020, Chino Valley, Arizona.

Thomas A. Fisher, former student, 81, Feb. 1, 2021, Kansas City, Missouri.

Kenneth D. Forbes, ’66, 76, Kappa Sigma, Oct. 29, 2020, Tucson, Arizona.

Richard Foster, former student, 90, March 9, 2021, Burleson, Texas.

Clifford Theodore “Ted” Forlow, ’52, 89, Delta Tau Delta, Jan. 18, 2021, Nanuet, New York.

Dr. Ron Geenens, ’58, 88, Kappa Sigma, Feb. 24, 2021, Overland Park, Kansas. Survivors include his daughter Ronda (Geenens) Hollister ’89, sons Douglas Geenens, ’83, and David Geenens ’83, daughter-in-law Terry Geenens, ’83, and grandchildren Brooke Geenens, ’17, Hannah Geenens ’15, and Aubrey Geenens, ’13.

William T. Hamlet, ’49, 93, Jan. 5, 2021, Springfield, Missouri.

Eugene L. Hardtarfer, ’61, 85, Oct. 30, 2020, Casper, Wyoming.

Elwin “Rich” Harris, ’69, 74, Jan. 23, 2021, Brentwood, Tennessee.

Donald H. Hougland, ’55, 92, Zeta Chi, Feb. 25, 2021, Lenexa, Kansas.

Sandra (Ward) Jones, ’69, 73, Phi Mu, Dec. 8, 2020, Overland Park, Kansas. Survivors include her husband, Robert C. Jones, ’69, brother Mike Ward, ’73, sister-in-law Susie (Franklin) Ward, ’74, sister Carole S. (Ward) Beck, ’66, brother-in-law Wright Beck, ’66, and sister Patty (Ward) Chambers, ’71.

Carolyn Kaberline, ’07 MAED, 72, Dec. 17, 2020, Topeka, Kansas.

Larry A. Kauffman, ’51, 91, Kappa Sigma, Oct. 30, 2020, Kansas City, Missouri.

Steven C. Kelly, ’74, Nov. 9,2020, Kansas City, Missouri.

Brenda J. Knupp, former student, 81, Oct. 15, 2020, Saluda, Virginia.

Ruth L. Latham, former student, 91, Dec. 8, 2020, Overland Park, Kansas.

AltaFaye (Cawood) Lee, ’96 BBA, 83, Feb. 28, 2021, Topeka, Kansas.

Barbara (Erickson) Longwell, ’62, 80, Delta Delta Delta, Dec. 10, 2020, Overland Park, Kansas.

Charles Mansfield , ’61, 81, Zeta Chi, Nov. 14, 2020, Overland Park, Kansas. Survivors include his son-in-law Christer Hanson, ’99.

Robert W. Massey Jr., former student, 65, Oct.28, 2020, Topeka, Kansas.

Martha “Marty” Mather, ’49, 93, Dec. 6, 2020, Olathe, Kansas. Read more about Marty Mather and her support of the university.

Pamela Sue Menagh, former student, 72, Jan. 27, 2021, Norton, Kansas.

Joseph “Joe” Charles Meyer, ’85, 60, March 14, 2021, Wellsville, Kansas. Survivors include his brother, Mark Meyer, ’94.

Rev. Dr. Jesse Milan, former faculty, 93, founder of Mungano, Feb. 8, 2021, Overland Park, Kansas. Read more about Dr. Milan and his impact on Baker.

David Lee Miller, ’63, 74, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Feb. 7, 2021, Topeka, Kansas.

Edward D. Mock, former student, 83, Kappa Sigma, Nov. 18, 2020, Milledgeville, Georgia.

Cordelia A. (McIntosh) Murphy, ’67, 75, Oct. 9, 2020, Kansas City, Kansas. Survivors include her sister June (McIntosh) Porter, ’56, and niece Durriyyah (McIntosh) Anderson, ’15.

Marian E. Neal, ’47, 94, Alpha Chi Omega, Dec. 7, 2020, Kansas City, Missouri.

Wayne Odell, ’68, 74, Delta Tau Delta, Dec. 18, 2020, Fredonia, Kansas. Survivors include his wife, Carole (Funkhouser) Odell, ’68, and grandson and current Baker student, Carter Odell.

Eva Kay (Norton) Parkin, ’55, 87, Phi Mu, former Baker Board of Trustees member, Nov. 10, 2020, Baldwin City, Kansas. Survivors include her daughter Karin (Parkin) Bettis, ’79, son-in-law Mike Bettis, ’93, and daughter Peggy (Parkin) Keller ’84.

Wayne E. Pence, 2000 MBA, 53, Jan.9, 2021, Topeka, Kansas.

Jeffrey R Pose , ’73, 69, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Nov. 18, 2020, Murrieta, California.

Dolores A. “Dee” (Smith) Reid, ’52,90, Zeta Tau Alpha, Dec. 12, 2020, Admire, Kansas.

Debora Rex, former student, 63, Jan.25, 2021, Olathe, Kansas.

Margaret “Jeanne” Spencer Richardson, ’55, 88, Alpha Chi Omega, Jan.22, 2021, Kansas City, Missouri.

Kaitlen Riley, Class of 2024, 19, Jan. 30, 2021, Concordia, Kansas.

Mary Roots ’06 MAED, 75, Feb. 17,2021, Hutchinson, Kansas.

Charles E. Rouse, II, ’83, 59, Nov. 8, 2020, Kansas City, Missouri. Survivors include his father, Harold “Hal” Rouse Jr., ’53, his sister Julianne (Rouse) McReynolds, ’80, and brother-in-law Rodger McReynolds, 2000.

Patricia A. Sage, former student, 75, Dec.5, 2020, Enid, Oklahoma.

George R. Schrader ’53, 89, Delta Tau Delta, former Baker Board of Trustees member, Dec. 31, 2020, Dallas, Texas. Survivors include his brother Gordon Schrader, ’61, and sister-in-law Joyce (Freeman) Schrader, ’63.

James Smith, ’63, 80, Feb. 21, 2021, Independence, Missouri. Survived by his wife, Sandra (Richards) Smith, ’62.

James Spaith, ’73, 70, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Feb. 1, 2021, Shawnee Mission, Kansas.

Kathryn Starbuck, ’54, 92, Jan. 22, 2021, Herrin, Kansas.

Jack Swager, ’52,94, Jan. 23, 2021, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Scott E. Thomas ’05 MAED, 51, March 15, 2021, Hutchinson, Kansas.

Julie Christine (Thieman) Van Acker, ’89, 53, Phi Mu, Oct. 8, 2020, Tampa, Florida.

Ted Allen Uhlig, ’87, 57, Sigma Phi Epsilon, March 11, 2021, Cushing, Oklahoma.

Margaret (Chiabotta) Vansant, ’58, 84, Zeta Tau Alpha, Nov. 16, 2020, Willowbrook, Illinois.

Phyllis (Jack) Warren, ’46, 96, Delta Delta Delta, Nov. 12, 2020, Iola, Kansas.

Larry K. Ward, former student, 85, Dec. 18, 2020, Sun City, Arizona.

Gordon C. Wassell, Jr., former student, 86, Dec. 15, 2020, Eureka, Kansas.

Melvin D. Wells, former student, 89, Dec. 30, 2020, Holton, Kansas.

Dona (Benner) Westpfahl, ’53, 90, Alpha Chi Omega, Sept. 26, 2020, Seattle, Washington.

Donna Jewell Wright, ’56, 86, Delta Delta Delta, Dec. 20, 2020, Frisco, Texas.

Verdeania V. Zeller, former employee, 87, Oct. 31, 2020, Lawrence, Kansas.