LORD, Delbert Lawrence - b. September 3, 1938 - d. December 7, 2020

[patyrn]

Delbert Lawrence Lord, age 82, of Elk Falls, Kansas, passed away on December 7, 2020 at Pleasant Valley Manor in Sedan, Kansas.  He was born in Neodesha, Kansas on September 3, 1938 to Charles and Margaret (Turley) Lord.

Delbert was raised on the family farm near Busby, Kansas.  He attended grammar school at Pleasant Hill and graduated from Howard High School in Howard, Kansas in 1956.  After graduation , he enlisted in the United States Army where he served as a cook, and then he served in the Army Reserves.  Once honorably discharged, he returned home to the farm where he helped care for his grandparents and found employment at Parker's Gas Station in Howard.    Delbert also helped as a farmhand to various local farmers.  He then started driving the gas truck for his dad when he opened the Charlie Skelly station.  He also delivered the Wichita Eagle-Beacon newspaper and started out as a substitute rural carrier for the United States Postal Service.  He then became the rural carrier where he would devote 30 years of service. 

When he wasn't working, you could find Delbert at the Fire Station.  He was the Elk Falls Fire Chief, the Elk County Rural Captain, the mayor of Elk Falls, served on the City Council, was a member of the Carter-Rader Post #0149 American Legion.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Nation Rifle Association and a member of the Howard Baptist Church.  In his retirement, he could be found hunting for Native American artifacts, drawing or painting, fishing for top water fish, helping Gene Walters at auctions, or stopping at one of his many favorite places to get the latest news. 

Delbert was very generous; at times too generous.  He would give a loan knowing that the odds of being paid back were slim.  He paid for fire equipment out of his pocket just to help the town or county out.  He always looked forward to giving during the Angel Tree Project every year and contributed to several charities that were close to his heart.  Delbert enjoyed his small family.  He enjoyed his friends, and he loved going to the casino and the Chinese Buffet on his outings with Brad and Mavis Helms.

Delbert's memories and many stories will live on with his sisters, Charlene (Kelly) Weakly and Nancy Glass; his nephews and nieces, Joel Haden, Devyn and Ryan Schouten, Laura Weakly, Lindsey Weakly, Tyron (Chrissy) Wells, Tiffany (Jared) Carr, and Jessica Glass Kendrex; and great nieces and nephews, Cody Glass, Heather Glass, Joel Rafe Haden, Emily Haden, Natalie and Taylor Bennet, and Kaylee (Cameron) Thompson.  He now rests with his parents; his brother-in-law, Bud Glass; and his nephew, Dennis Wells.

With the current pandemic, a memorial service will be held once it is safe to come together to celebrate and remember the life that Delbert shared with us.  To share a memory or leave the family a message of condolence, please visit www.webbrodrickfuneralhome.com.  Webb & Rodrick Funeral Home of Idependence, Kansas has been entrusted with arrangements.

(taken from the Webb & Rodrick Funeral Home website)