Clarence B. Mehl

Clarence Baldwin Mehl was born on January 22, 1918 to Clarence Author Mehl and Gertrude Ruth (Baldwin) Mehl on a farm 18 miles southwest of Beloit, Kansas. He was the second child of four children born to this union, and was the last surviving sibling. He died early Sunday, November 5, 2006 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit at the age of 88 years, 9 months, and 14 days.
Clarence grew up on the farm homestead by his grandfather John Mehl. He attended Pleasant Hill School, located 1 ½ miles southwest of the farm, and upon graduating from the 8th grade, he attended Hunter High School, where he graduated in the class of 1935. After high school, he went to Portland, Oregon, where he attended an electrical trade school, then returned to the farm where he and his brothers farmed with their dad.
Clarence was introduced to Bonnie Jean Richardson at a friend's house, and later became the love of his life. They were married on October 26, 1941, and shared 64 years together. Four sons were born to this union. Three months after their marriage, Clarence was drafted to serve his country in the conflict, which later was known as WWII. He was sent overseas, serving in the 8th Air Force in Great Britain for three years while Bonnie moved to Wichita to work in an aircraft factory to support the war. After his return home, he and Bonnie moved back to the Baldwin ranch 2 miles east of where he grew up and began to farm. Some years later, he took a special interest in quarrying post rock for building stone. He built all of his stone equipment used to make pieces into specific sizes and thickness to meet the builder's demands. There are many buildings and fireplaces in the surrounding area with stone which came out of his quarry. He has sold stone to builders as far away as Oregon. He said working the stone up was "kind of a prisoner's job". He retired from quarrying stone when he was 70 years old.
Clarence was a faithfully devoted husband and father, taking special joy in his grandchildren. He also had a great passion for the Scriptures, always having a Bible close to his chair.
Left to mourn his passing are four sons and their wives, Ronald Steve and his wife Ann, Timothy Scott and his wife Rhonda, Jack Lee and his wife Vickie, and David Dewayne and his wife June; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 PM Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at the Beloit First Christian Church with burial in Saltville Cemetery south of Beloit. Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Tuesday at McDonald Funeral Home.