EARL "SHORTY" WAYNE BASTIN

EARL "SHORTY" WAYNE BASTIN Earl "Shorty" Wayne Bastin, age 95, went to be with the Lord, on Monday, May 21, 2012, at Newman Regional Health in Emporia, KS. The son of Joseph Henry and Generva Etta Childs Bastin, he was born December 20, 1916 in Matfield Green, KS. A celebration of life service will be held Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 2:00 P.M. at the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Ingram, President of Manhattan Christian College officiating. Interment will follow in Elmdale Cemetery. He graduated from Elmdale Rural High School with the class of 1937. He was neither absent nor tardy during his four years of high school and was presented a Webster Collegiate Dictionary for his accomplishment. He, also, had the distinction of having a perfect attendance record during his grade school course. The fact that he walked or rode a horse three miles to school each day, made the record very remarkable. He attended Kansas Normal School (now Emporia State University) where he played football one year. He was a member and elder of the Elmdale Christian Church and, since moving to Emporia, attended the First Christian Church in Emporia. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force, from November, 1942 until October, 1945, as an airplane mechanic in the Bombardment Squadron 497th Bomb Group. He was stationed in the Mariana Islands and was based in Saipan during WWII where he worked on B29 and B17 aircraft. He received three bronze stars and a good conduct medal. He and Lowell Lavergn Starks were married July 8, 1939, in Cottonwood Falls, KS. and shared almost 65 years together. What a pair! She preceded him on February 28, 2004. He spent 83 years of his life in Chase County before moving to Emporia in 1999. He was the custodian and school bus driver for the Elmdale Grade School from 1949 until 1968. He was then the custodian for Chase County High School from 1968 until 1982 when he retired. He loved sports. A great deal of his time was spent on the baseball field-as a player, coach , and umpire. He umpired many high school, American Legion, and college games. He began umpiring in 1961 for Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) and continued until the mid 70’s. He loved the Emporia State University women’s basketball teams and softball teams. He attended almost all of his children’s and grandchildren’s games throughout the many years. He could build anything, fix anything, figure out anything. He was a loving husband, wonderful father, awesome grandpa, great friend, role model, and a practical jokester. He is survived by three children: Larry Bastin and his wife, Sharon, of St. Louis, MO., Don Bastin and his wife, Almedia, of Derby, KS., and Carol Cooper and her husband, Doug, of Emporia, KS.; seven grandchildren: Diane & Russell Brooks, Julie Ring, Lisa & Mark Woodridge, Darin & Cory Bastin, Dana & Chris Baldridge, Bryan & Natalie Cooper, and Allan & Jamie Cooper; 15 great-grandchildren: Lauren Walker, MiKayla, Megan, and Colten Bastin, Sarah, Anna, and John Brooks, Bo & Kendra Baldridge, Brook & Aiden Ring, Jack & Ben Woodridge, Caeden Cooper, and Wesley Earl Wayne Cooper; and two step great-grandchildren: Dakota & Emily McMillan. He was preceded in death by his wife; a daughter, Patsy Suzann; a grandson, Luke Brooks; and his brothers: Buford, Clifford, and Ervin Bastin. The family will meet friends Tuesday, from 6:30 until 8:00, at the funeral home. Friends may call Tuesday, from noon until 8:00 and Wednesday, from 9:00 until service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions to the Shorty and Lavergn Bastin Scholarship at Emporia State University or to the Manhattan Christian College may be sent in care of the funeral home, 201 Cherry, Cottonwood Falls, KS. 66845. Messages to the family may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com.

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