VERNON E. EBERHART

VERNON E. EBERHART Vernon E. Eberhart, age 93, of Valley Center, died Sunday, December 18, 2011, at the Newton Medical Center in Newton, Kansas. A graveside service will be held December 30, 2011, at 10:30 A.M., at the Valley Center Cemetery. The Rev. Dennis Livingston will officiate. There will be full military honors by a Fort Riley Funeral Honor Guard. The son of Frank and Anna M. Schmidt Eberhart, Vernon was born March 2, 1918, in Preston, Kansas, in Pratt County. He married Laveta Hartsell on November 8, 1941, in Topeka, Kansas. They celebrated their 70th Anniversary this year. He attended Kansas State University and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He was employed as a county agricultural agent in Kearny County. He served with the 2nd Tactical Air Communications Squadron in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was an Administrative Specialist 502 and was qualified as a carbine marksman. His squadron served in Rome-Arno, Northern and Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. They made nine invasions in Europe. He separated from the Army with the rank of Sergeant. When he returned, he and Laveta farmed in Kearny County until 1970 when they moved to Garden City. They moved to Valley Center in 2000. He was a 50 year member of the Lions Club and served as SW District Governor of the International Lions Club. He made canes and walking sticks and gave one to everyone who needed them including those in Joplin and Greensburg and to veterans in the Seattle, WA. area. He was a member of the Valley Center United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of the home; two sons: Franklin LaVern Eberhart and his wife, Joyce, of Buena Vista, CO. (formerly of Deerfield, KS.) and Dr. Keith Eberhart and his wife, Carol, of Edgewood, WA; one daughter, Susan Stratton and her husband, Bill, of Valley Center; 6 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Glenda Branscom Adams and Lorene Bright and a great-granddaughter, Tosha Reese. Memorial contributions to the Valley Center Library or "Talking Books" may be sent in care of the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home, 201 Cherry, Cottonwood Falls, KS. 66845. Condolences may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com.

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