Harry Depew

HARRY L. DEPEW Harry Luther Depew of Neodesha, Kansas, died Wednesday, August 31, 2005, at the Wilson County Hospital Emergency Room. He was 81. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 3, 2005, at the United Methodist Church under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel. The Reverend Kris Brinlee will officiate. Interment will be in Neodesha Cemetery. Friends may call to register and view on Friday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. The son of Clarence William and Dorothy Bushaway Depew, he was born November 18, 1923, in Neodesha, Kansas. He graduated from Neodesha High School in 1941. He also attended school at Coffeyville Junior College and Stanford University of San Francisco, California. Mr. Depew volunteered for service in the U.S. Army during WWII, entering as a private before eventually being promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. During WWII, he served stateside and in the Philippine Islands. After his service ended, he returned to Kansas and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1948 with a business degree. He graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1951. Mr. Depew returned to active duty in the Army and served during the Korean Conflict as a platoon leader, earning the Combat Infantry Badge. On March 27, 1951, Harry was united in marriage to Frances Allene Crisp in Coffeyville, Kansas. She survives at the home. He was an attorney at law and began his practice in Neodesha on January 1, 1953, retiring in 1993. He was a member of the Kansas Bar Association, a past member of the American Bar Association and served many years on various committees of the KBA. He was past president of the Neodesha Lions Club, the Wilson County Bar Association, the 7th Judicial District Bar and the Southeast Kansas Bar Association. He served on the Wilson County Hospital Board of Directors for 14 years and was a former member of the First National Bank now the First Neodesha Bank Board of Directors. He was active in the Boy Scouts for 12 years. He served on the Neodesha Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for several years, the Four County Mental Health Board of Directors and was a member of the United Methodist Church, serving on the Board of Trustees for many years. Harry loved traveling and had visited well over 100 countries but was most proud of having visited all seven continents of the world, including Antarctica. He also was an avid tennis player and hunter. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Doug and Dennis Depew, both of Neodesha; and four grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Clarence and Don. Memorial contributions may be made to either the United Methodist Church or the Wilson County Hospital Foundation. Condolences may be expressed at www.penwellgabel.com.