Laurence I. Warburton

Laurence I. Warburton was born July 29, 1924, near Beloit, Kansas and died to this earthly life on Sunday, December 16, 2007, at 83 years of age. He was the tenth child of eleven born to Ward E. Warburton and Jessie F. Ashworth Warburton.
He lived most of his young life on the family farm that was located on the Jewell-Mitchell County line with his siblings. Their mother died at the young age of 40, so his brother Ed, with his wife Margaret, returned to the farm to help his Dad with the younger children. Then his sister Ruth returned to help.
He attended Star School in Jewell County, graduating from the eighth grade.
When he was around 24 years old, he started working for Paul and Helen Mears of rural Beloit. He continued with them and their son Charles for almost 60 years as a farmhand and mechanic. There wasn't much that he didn't or couldn't do on the Mears farm or fix, when it needed mending.
In later years he really enjoyed driving the grain down the road in a semi to Salina or Goodland. Cattle buying trips to Montana with Charles and Vicki Mears were also enjoyed.
On June 17, 1950, he was united in marriage to Evelyn June Bunch, of Lincoln, at Salina, KS. They were married and lived in the same house for fifty-seven and a half years. Three children were born to them: Ruth Warburton, John Warburton, and Jim Warburton.
Laurence was involved with the West Beloit 4-H Club for 29 years and was still helping with the Mitchell County Fair until only a couple of years ago.
He was a good husband, father and his family was always important to him. His father joined him and Evelyn in their home after the flood of 1951 until his death in 1963. The Warburton family, including brothers, sisters and their families, has had yearly reunions at Laurence and Evelyn's home, this year celebrating number 57.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Beloit and until recently, was found in attendance there almost every Sunday.
Laurence loved the summertime and it¹s hot, hot weather. His garden was always big enough for his family and friends. Many people enjoyed tomatoes, turnips and other vegetables from the garden.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Edwin, Clifford, and Lynn "Dean"; and sisters, Lillie Norton, Ruth Betsworth, Edith King, Oneta Alley, Agnes "Pearl" Shockey and Ruby Bruhn.
Survivors include wife Evelyn of the home; children Ruth, John, and Jim Warburton, all of Beloit; a sister, Mildred Bruhn of Genoa, Nebraska; a cousin, Floriene Walker of Beloit; other cousins, many special nieces and nephews, co-workers and many, many friends.
He will be missed.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Thursday, December 20, at the Beloit United Methodist Church with burial at Elmwood Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the church or Solomon Valley Hospice. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Wednesday at the McDonald Funeral Home.