FIDEL G. YBARRA

FIDEL G. YBARRA Fidel Ybarra, age 85, of Emporia and formerly of Cottonwood Falls, died Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at Newman Regional Health in Emporia. A rosary will be recited Sunday, April 3, 2011, at 6:30 P.M., at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Strong City, KS. with Father Nicholas Voelker. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, April 4, 2011, at 11:00 A.M., at the church with Father Theodore Khin. Burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery north of Strong City. The son of Nasario and Juana Gomez Ybarra, Fidel was born February 8, 1926, in Guanajuayo, Mexico. He didn’t complete high school; however, he, later, went back and completed his GED. He and Teresa L. Luna were married December 13, 1948, at a judge’s home in Cottonwood Falls. She preceded him on May 1, 2003. He worked as a track laborer for Santa Fe railroad, starting March 13, 1944, and retiring July 8, 1988. After his retirement, he worked as a school janitor at the grade school in Cottonwood Falls and as a lawn maintenance man. He drove a little yellow pickup with a lawn mower in the back and he enjoyed helping others. He always had a smile and spoke to everyone. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and the Brotherhood union with the railroad. He is survived by three sons: Stephen Ybarra of Topeka, Fidel Ybarra, Jr. of Emporia, and Nicholas Ybarra of Wichita; three daughters: Lisa Lewis of Wichita, Bernadette Gutierrez and Linda Woodling, both of Emporia; four brothers: Raymond Ybarra of Kansas City, KS., Robert Ybarra of Detroit, Mich., and Refugio Ybarra and Edward Ybarra, both of Temecula, CA.; four sisters: Mary Johns of Fallbrook, CA., Tomasa Guardado of Westminster, CA., Virginia Eye of Warner Robins, GA., and Connie Butter of Cottonwood Falls; 13 grandchildren: Carmen Costillo, Charles Woodling, Nicholas Hurst, Lauren Hurst, Adrian Ybarra, Andrea Ybarra, Arianna Gutierrez, Marcus Cook, James Cook, Noah Ybarra, Elijah Ybarra, Gabriella Ybarra, and Jonas Ybarra; and seven great grandchildren: Brennan Cook, Delanie Benitez, Teresa Costillo, Javier Costillo, Sierra Martinez, Lilliana Martinez, and Tony Ramirez. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a baby son, Nicholas; a daughter, Rosemary Cook, a sister, Delores Ybarra, and a grandson, Timmy Surprenant. After the rosary, the family will meet friends at the Anthony Hall until 8:00 P.M. Friends may call Saturday, noon until 5:00 P.M., at the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home and Monday, 9:00 until service time at the church. Memorial contributions to the American Heart Association may be sent in care of the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home, 201 Cherry, Cottonwood Falls, KS. 66845. Messages may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com

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