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Winnie Mildred Fankhouser, 98, died September 4, 2011, at the Carriage House of Greensburg, Kansas. She was born September 4, 1913 in Battles, Arkansas, at the family home of George Macum and Sarah Cornelia "Nelia" (Carpenter) McElmurry. Her family, including one sister and five brothers, moved to Belvidere, Ks., when she was twelve years old.
After attending school in Belvidere, she completed high school in Haviland ,Ks., graduating in 1933. At Haviland High School she met Lester Lloyd Fankhouser. They were married January 2, 1937, in Haviland, Ks., at the Friends Church parsonage. They celebrated 68 years of marriage before Lloyd's death in 2005.
Winnie attended Manhattan Business College, Manhattan, Ks., in 1937, and traveled to several states as an Army wife and mother during WWII. She worked at the Haviland Post Office as a substitute and full-time clerk for many years, retiring in 1978.
At the age of six Winnie begged her grandmother to "let the quilt down from the ceiling" so she could quilt. Thus began a lifetime of sewing, quilting and knitting. She especially enjoyed quilting with friends for Barclay College Auxiliary. At age 95, Winnie helped with stitching on the U.S. flag, brought to the Carriage House in Greensburg, Ks., to be repaired after it was damaged in New York City, September 11, 2001.
Winnie was an active member of the Haviland Friends Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Friends Missionary Society, and many other aspects of the church. Through the years she was active in the Carriage House Residents Council, Order of the Eastern Star, Star of Hope Chapter #193, Greensburg, American Legion Auxiliary, Postal Letter Carriers Auxiliary, YWCA, SOS Club, Thimble Club, Fankhauser-Funkhouser Family Association, Haviland Booster Club and other civic groups.
She is survived by two daughters Sue Ann Fankhouser-Conn, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Sharon Harzman and husband Eldon, Richmond, Indiana, two grandsons Alan Harzman and wife Sheila, Worthington, Ohio, and Eric Harzman and wife Lily, Oak Park, Illinois, two sisters-in-law Betty McElmurry, Lancaster, California, and Pat McElmurry, Camarillo, California, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Lester Lloyd Fankhouser, her parents George and Nelia (Carpenter) McElmurry, a sister Malissa Reuter, and five brothers Marcus, Eldridge, Vernon, James Calvin and Noble McElmurry.
Winnie was always thankful for life, family, friends, and faith. She leaves that legacy of thankfulness to all of us. She will be greatly missed.
Funeral services and celebration of Winnie's life will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 8, 2011, at the Haviland Friends Church, Haviland, with Pastors Fred Johnson, Robin Johnston and Donnie Hinshaw officiating. Burial will follow in Haviland Cemetery. A visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Haviland Friends Church and Barclay College, both in care of Fleener Funeral Home, 514 S. Main, Greensburg, Kansas, 67054.
Winnie Mildred Fankhouser, 98, died September 4, 2011, at the Carriage House of Greensburg, Kansas. She was born September 4, 1913 in Battles, Arkansas, at the family home of George Macum and Sarah Cornelia "Nelia" (Carpenter) McElmurry. Her family, including one sister and five brothers, moved to Belvidere, Ks., when she was twelve years old.
After attending school in Belvidere, she completed high school in Haviland ,Ks., graduating in 1933. At Haviland High School she met Lester Lloyd Fankhouser. They were married January 2, 1937, in Haviland, Ks., at the Friends Church parsonage. They celebrated 68 years of marriage before Lloyd's death in 2005.
Winnie attended Manhattan Business College, Manhattan, Ks., in 1937, and traveled to several states as an Army wife and mother during WWII. She worked at the Haviland Post Office as a substitute and full-time clerk for many years, retiring in 1978.
At the age of six Winnie begged her grandmother to "let the quilt down from the ceiling" so she could quilt. Thus began a lifetime of sewing, quilting and knitting. She especially enjoyed quilting with friends for Barclay College Auxiliary. At age 95, Winnie helped with stitching on the U.S. flag, brought to the Carriage House in Greensburg, Ks., to be repaired after it was damaged in New York City, September 11, 2001.
Winnie was an active member of the Haviland Friends Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Friends Missionary Society, and many other aspects of the church. Through the years she was active in the Carriage House Residents Council, Order of the Eastern Star, Star of Hope Chapter #193, Greensburg, American Legion Auxiliary, Postal Letter Carriers Auxiliary, YWCA, SOS Club, Thimble Club, Fankhauser-Funkhouser Family Association, Haviland Booster Club and other civic groups.
She is survived by two daughters Sue Ann Fankhouser-Conn, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Sharon Harzman and husband Eldon, Richmond, Indiana, two grandsons Alan Harzman and wife Sheila, Worthington, Ohio, and Eric Harzman and wife Lily, Oak Park, Illinois, two sisters-in-law Betty McElmurry, Lancaster, California, and Pat McElmurry, Camarillo, California, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Lester Lloyd Fankhouser, her parents George and Nelia (Carpenter) McElmurry, a sister Malissa Reuter, and five brothers Marcus, Eldridge, Vernon, James Calvin and Noble McElmurry.
Winnie was always thankful for life, family, friends, and faith. She leaves that legacy of thankfulness to all of us. She will be greatly missed.
Funeral services and celebration of Winnie's life will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 8, 2011, at the Haviland Friends Church, Haviland, with Pastors Fred Johnson, Robin Johnston and Donnie Hinshaw officiating. Burial will follow in Haviland Cemetery. A visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Haviland Friends Church and Barclay College, both in care of Fleener Funeral Home, 514 S. Main, Greensburg, Kansas, 67054.
