EBY, James Whitney - b. January 30, 1923 - d. June 15, 1997

[genealogynut]

James Whitney Eby, 74, of Howard, retired president of Howard State Bank, died June 15, 1997, at his home.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Zimmerman Funeral Home.  The Rev. Robert Cooper will officiate.  Military rites will be conducted by Carter-Rader Post 149 of the American Legion in Grace Lawn Cemetery.

Cremation has taken place.

A memorial has been established with Howard United Methodist Church's building fund.  Contributions can be made through the funeral home.

Eby was born January 30, 1923, in Lawrence, to James W. and Mary Elizabeth (Courtney) Eby.  He  spent his childhood in Howard and later attended Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri.  Following his graduation in 1941, he attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence until leaving to serve in the United States Army in 1942.

He served in the Army in the European and South Pacific theatres of World War II and in the Korean Conflict.  He spent his final four years of military service in Japan before returning to the United States in 1963.  He achieved the rank of major in Army Intelligence.

Eby then attended and graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in accounting.  He returned to Howard, and like his grandfather, A. F. Eby, and his father, J. W. Eby, worked at the Howard State Bank.  He retired in 1985, after served as president of Elk County's oldest independent bank for 18 years.

Eby was a member of the Howard United Methodist Church, Hope Lodge 155 of Ancient Free and Accepted Mason and Carter-Rader Post 149 of the American Legion.  He also served as a member of the Howard City Council and the board of the Howard Housing Authority.  Survivors include his wife, Betty Spurrier Eby, Howard; a son, Carl W. Eby, Midland, Texas; two daughters, Mary Beth Bateman, Wichita, and Pamela S. Bartholomew, Greenville, S.C.; two stepsons, Marc S. Spurrier, of Howard, and Brian H. Spurrier, Lawrence; two stepdaughters, Kaye Yates, Huffman, Texas and Sylvia Stites, Mount Hope; seven grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.