Walter Ray Dobbins

Walter Ray Dobbins, age 89, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died early Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott. He was born July 1, 1923, in Arcadia, Kan. the son of Ed Dobbins and Ruth Perry Dobbins. Ray graduated from Arcadia High School and later attended Fort Scott Junior College. He married Lila Darlene Pulliam on July 9, 1945, at San Diego, Calif. Ray served with the United States Navy during World War II. Ray was employed as an audit examiner for the Western Insurance Company for 28 years. He also served as pastor of the Bethel Community Church from 1958 to 1971. He was a member of the First Church of God and the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. In his earlier years, Ray enjoyed fishing and bowling. He also enjoyed camping with his family and square dancing. Ray and Darlene were charter members of both the Old Forters Camping Club and the Iza Stompers Square Dance Club.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Darlene, of the home; his three children, Linda Rae Anthony, and husband, Wally, Fort Scott, John Earl Dobbins, of Fort Scott, and Nancy Ellen Byerley and husband, Steve, of Tualatin, Oreg.; four grandchildren, Michael Antony, Las Vegas, Nev., Jeffrey Edwin Lewis Hunt, San Antonio, Texas, David Arthur Hunt, Gentry, Ark., and Kayla Blaire Byerley , Portland, Oreg.; and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three brothers, Perry Dobbins and Dan Dobbins, both of Fort Scott, and Bill Dobbins, Frontenac; three nieces, Ruth Coomer, Jeanie Hart and Donna Dugan; and two nephews Dan and Tom Dobbins.

Rev. Phil Wilson will conduct funeral services at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday, March 27 at the First Church of God, Wall and Broadway streets in Fort Scott. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorials are suggested to the First Church of God Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com. cheneywitt.com.