Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery
Ft. Leavenworth, Johnson County, Kansas

 

Submitted by Oz

 

Name Birth Date Death Date Other Information
Collins, Kathryn (Swistowicz)
12-20-1918 1-7-2005 b. Chicago IL Cook co, d. Olathe ks  Johnson co, She graduated from Farragut High School in 1937 and completed college courses at Austin Evening School. In high school, where she was known as "Kacha," she was active in Student Council, Glee Club, Swimming and Dramatics. Kathryn worked in the stationery department of the Brunswick bowling company in Chicago from 1937 to 1945, where she met her husband George. They were married on August 21, 1943. Kathryn was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and a good friend. Her happiest times were with her family. A gifted painter and potter, she was an avid cook, gardener, golfer, bowler, card player and seamstress. Kathryn was active in the Air Force Academy Officers' Wives' Club, the Wichita State University Women's Association and the Air University Women's Association in Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents Michael and Katie Swistowicz, her sisters Marie Musial and Anne Swistowicz and brother Frank Swistowicz, all of Chicago, and grandson Colin P. Beyer. D.W.
Hamm, Robert 11-19-1929 8-1-2005 b. Lockwood MO Dade co, d.  Lenexa ks Johnson co, Bud S/O Abner and Belva Hamm. A resident of Lenexa, formerly of Hutchinson from 1954 to 1960, he worked for The Vendo Company for 20 years.
Phipps, Alvin Joseph 8-29-1920    5-24-2005  b. Ness co ks, d. Topeka ks Shawnee co, S/O John Riley and Maude Margaret Wimmer Phipps. He grew up and attended school in Hutchinson. He served in the National Guard and the U.S. Army, having served during World War II. He married Willa Cleaver. They divorced. He married Joyce Yehle. She died in 1956. He later married Mary. She survives.
Pribble, Joan Clarice (Lewis) 3-19-1924 4-2-2005 d. Jackson co  MO, a resident of Wexford Place, Kansas City, MO, formerly of Mulvane, KS, died April 2, 2005, at Wexford Place. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 6 at 10 a.m. in the Strafford Room at Wexford Place. Reverend William Lusk will officiate. Private burial services will be held at Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Derby, KS, Church of the Redeemer, Kansas City, MO, or Northcare Hospice, Kansas City, MO. Arrangements are being made by Heritage Funeral Home, Parkville, MO. Joan was born in St. Georges, Bermuda,   daughter of John Lewis and Dorothy (Schwab) Lewis. She was raised in Bermuda where she attended grade school and high school. On May 21, 1949, Joan married Fred Pribble at McKinley AFB, Bermuda. He preceded her in death March 2003.
Ralston, Thomas Albert  Jr 10-21-1924 7-18-2005 b. Pratt ks Pratt co, d Lansing ks Leavenworth co, CWO 3(USA Ret.)He attended school in Pratt. His biggest dream was to be a soldier. As a boy, he spent many hours at Lemons Park and the Hatchery to fish and it was of great interest to him the rest of his life. Tom joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. at Rozel, KS, in 1941, and as soon as he was 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was inducted into the Army realizing a lifetime dream. Tom attended several schools including Basic Airborne Course, Enlisted Classification Course, Personnel Management Course, Ballistic Meteorology Course, Weather Equipment Maintenance Course. Tom was an Infantryman, Personnel Managment Supervisor, Personnel Officer and Weather Officer. He received the Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement 1942-48, The Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in 1960, and again 1964-66. Tom was one of the 101st Airborne Troops who dropped into France at the beginning of WWII. After VE Day, he volunteered and stayed in Austria as one of the Guard for General Mark Clark. He married Cleo Marie Sterling-Tracy, Jan. 27, 1951, at Clayton, NM, with whom he had a glorious, happy, fun-filled life. She survives at their home in Lansing. Tom went from Ft. Riley to Colorado Springs, CO, in July 1951, with the Army AntiCraft Center for six months. Then to Kansas City, MO, for six months with the Central Army AntiCraft Center. At this point, he was sent to Korea during the War there. While there, he was given a Battlefield Warrant and became WOJG. Only 41 had ever been given during the history of the Army. He also received word of the birth of his son, Thomas Albert IV. He returned from Korea in Aug. 1953, and was assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, where he did an excellent job and also got in many hours fishing. From there he went to Ft. Sill, OK, to the Ballistic Meteorology School and was 2nd in class. Then off to Germany to be with 2nd Armored Div. in Baumholder until the 4th Armored Div. gyroed into Germany and moved to Nuremburg to enjoy Bavaria. Then back to Ft. Sill and his final assignment was Bamberg, Germany. When Tom retired in 1966, the family located in Lawrence, KS, for 11 years. Tom went to KU for three semesters but it moved too slow for him so he transferred to Central Inst. of Technology, which became Missouri Inst. of Tech. and finally DeVry Inst. He graduated Magma Cum Laude. He was Electronic Lab. Instructor for one year; Assoc. Prof. at MIT for two years. He taught basic electronics, mathematics, communication skills, basic physics and electronic lab. He then became Dept. Chairman for the Electronic Tech. Program at MIT, where he wrote course outlines, counseled students, supervised all faculty assts., the review and implementation of curriculum, assembling statistical reports and providing guidance members. His final job with the school was as lab supervisor over all labs. Tom received the Army Occupation Medal (Germany), Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Medal, National Defense Service Medal. Tom had a great sense of humor, loved his family, loved to fish and hunt and finally to work in the yard and garden. Tom spent many hours in military chapels and though he was baptized in Church of Christ as a child, he felt he was nearer to God in the chapels than anywhere. Tom was a lifetime member of The Retired Officers Assoc.
       
       
       
       

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