SPRAGUE, Dr. Robert Leon - b. June 11, 1923 - d. May 26, 2007

[Janet Harrington]

(From the Independence Daily Reporter, May 28, 2007, page 2)

Dr. Robert Leon Sprague, 83, of Grenola, died Saturday at his home.

Services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Grenola United Methodist Church with interment in Elk Falls Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Zimmerman Funeral Home, Howard.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas and they may be left with the funeral home.

Dr. Sprague was born June 11, 1923 at Grenola to Bert and Mary (Stiles) Sprague.  He moved to Texas with his family and graduated in 1942 from Crane High School, Crane, Texas.

He entered the United States Army in 1942 and served in the Army Air Corps in the European Theater during World War II until 1945.  He worked in oil fields and was a professional boxer.

He received a bachelor of science degree in education from texas TEch University in 1953 and taught elementary education and served as school principal in New Mexico, Missouri and Kansas.  In 1967 he received his master's degree in counseling from Wichita State University and earned a master's degree in psychology from Pittsburg State University.

Dr. Sprague was a counselor in the Coffeyville area and worked at Crawford County Mental Health Center before completing a doctor of philosophy in education degree from Kentucky Christian University in 1974.  He was director of special education at West Elk school district in Howard during the 1980s.

On January 7, 1950, he married Velma Werfelman, and she died in 1991.  On January 2, 2002, he married Marjorie (Thompson) Wirth in Miami, Okla., and she survives.
(
Other survivors include two sons, David Sprague, Olathe, and Bert Sprague, Arma; a stepson, Rocky Welborn, Wichita; a stepdaughter, Renee Wells, Grenola; a sister, Betty Lemons, Victoria, Texas; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
...

(Taken from the Flint Hills Express, May 30, 2007, page 3)

Dr. Robert Leon Sprague passed away at his home in Grenola on Saturday, May 26, 2007.  He was 83 years of age.

Lee, as he was known, was born on June 11, 1923 at Grenola to Bert James and Mary Anice (Stiles) Sprague.  He moved with his family to Texas at an early age and graduated from Crane High School in Crane, Texas in 1942.

On March 16, 1942, he entered the United States Army and served in the Army Aikr Corps in the European Theatre during World WAr II.  After his discharge from the Army in 1945, Lee worked in the oil fields and fought as a professional boxer for several years.  On Jan. 7, 1970, he married Velma Aline Werfelman at Clayton, New Mexico.  She preceded him in death on April 24, 1991.

In 1953, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Texas Tech University.  He taught elementary education and served as school principal in New Mexico and Missouri before becoming employed at the Methodist Youthville in newton, Kan.  In 1967, he completed a Master of Science degree in couseling at Wichita State University and earned a Master of Science degree in psychology from Pittsburg State University at Pittsburg in 1970.  Lee was counselor in the Coffeyville area and worked at Crawford County mental Health Center before completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from Kentucky Christian University in 1974.  Dr. Sprague was Director of Special Education at West Elk U.S.D. 282 in Howard during the 1980's.  He lived in Missouri before moving to Elk Falls in 1994.  On Jan. 2, 2002 he married Marjorie Helen (Thompson) Wirth at Miami, Okla., and they made their home in Grenola.

He enjoyed spending his time traveling, dancing and was a licensed "ham" radio operator.  Lee attended the Grenola United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife,
Helen; his sons, David Sprague of Olathe and Bert Sprague of Arma; a step-son, Rocky Welborn of Wichita; a step-daughter, Renee Wells of Grenola; a sister, Betty Lemons of Victoria, texas; eleven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma; his parents; his step-father, Hal Frailey; one sister, Lois Latham; one brother, Richard Frailey and two grandchildren, Morgan Sprague and Stephanie Baert.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, may 30, 2007 at the Grenola United Methodist Church in Grenola with Chaplain Norman Reeves of Hospice Care of Kansas officiating.  Shae Watkins will be the organist with Judy Perrigo singing"God On The Mountain" and "Love Crucified A Rose".  The congregation will sing "Great Is Thy Faithfullness".  Recordings of "big band" music will be played.  The casket bearers will be Cory Crain, Dick Eastman, Jake Liebau, Shawn Sprague, LeRoy Terry and Jeff Wells.

Interment will be held at the Elk Falls Cemetery in Elk Falls. Memorials have been established with Hospice Care of Kansas and the Grenola Senior Citizens Building Fund.  Contributions may be left with the fuenral home.  The funeral arrangements are being made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard.