Oris Killebrew

Oris R. Killebrew Oris Robert Killebrew of Neodesha, Kansas, died Monday, October 30, 2006, at the Wilson County Hospital. He was 93. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2006, at Penwell-Gable Loran Fawcett Chapel. The Reverend Kris Brinlee will officiate. Interment will be in Neodesha Cemetery. The son of Lewis and Ollie Stusse Killebrew, he was born June 28, 1913, in McCune, Kansas. He graduated from Neodesha High School in 1931. He graduated from Independence Junior College and in 1937 from Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg with a bachelor of science in education. Mr. Killebrew was a high school teacher in both Kansas and Missouri for over two years before becoming employed with the US Postal Service. He was a city carrier and a rural mail carrier for the Neodesha Post Office for 38 years before retiring in 1978. He was united in marriage to Josephine Noret Hellums on May 3, 1943, in Galveston, TX. She preceded him in death November 28, 2000. He served as a Lieutenant in the US Coast Guard during WWII and as a Captain in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. During his service with the Coast Guard, he served in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic and the South Pacific as an engineering and deck officer. During his service with the US Army, he was commanding officer of the Neodesha National Guard unit which was sent to Fort Lewis, WA. He later transferred to Korea as an Artillery Liaison officer with South Korean and American units. Mr. Killebrew was a member of the United Methodist Church, secretary-treasurer of the Methodist Men, Rotary Club, the American Legion, Harmony Lodge 94 A.F. amp; A.M., the Order of the Eastern Star and the Wilson County Draft Board. He was a past president of the Southeast Kansas Rural Letter Carriers, the Neodesha Alumni Association and was a former chairman of Neodesha Savings and Loan Board of Directors. He also served as mayor of Neodesha from 1991-1995. Survivors include two sons, Lewis G. Killebrew and wife Jane of Amarillo, TX, and John R. Killebrew and wife Mary of Basalt, CO; and four grandchildren Jesse, Jason, Matt and Justin Killebrew. In addition to his wife, he is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lola Wright. Memorial contributions may be made to Wilson County Hospital Foundation. Condolences may be expressed at www.penwellgabel.com.