TODD, Robert Franklin - b. August 11, 1925 - d. July 1, 2008

[patyrn]

Robert Franklin Todd, 82, of Grenola, Kansas, passed away July 1, 2008 at William Newton Hospital in Winfield, Kansas.  Bob was born on August 11, 1925 at Gridley, Kansas to James Common and Iva Alice (Hitchens) Todd.  He attended school through the age of 16 and then farmed with his father until joining the U.S. Marines during World War II.  Bob served in Iwo Jima and the occupation of Japan.

On June 29, 1947 he married Edith Lucille Beyer at Burlington, Kansas, and to ths union were born three daughters, Sondra, Ruth, and Evelyn.  They farmed near Gridley until floods damaged that area in 1951.

Bob completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas  He later completed his education at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma and graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity degree.  He was ordained in the Humboldt First Christian Church in 1957.

Bob served as a Disciples of Christ minister at several locations in Kansas before becoming a vocational counselor for the State of Kansas.  He was employed by the Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Service in Newton, Salina, western Kansas, and Winfield. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith, on August 16, 1981.

On November 2, 1985 he married Charlene Fy (Purcell) Hunter at Winfield, Kansas.  They moved to Grenola in 1987. 

Bob was interim pastor of the Fall River Chrisian Church from 1995 until he retired in 1997.  He was later employed as maintenance worker and bus driver by the Burden School District, and he also raised cattle near Grenola for several years.  Bob was a member of the Elk County Ministerial Alliance, past president of the Community Club, director of the Grenola Senior Citizens, a representative for the Elk County Council on Aging, and was a member of the Grenola Card Club. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith; his parents; his two brothers, and his two sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Charlene Todd; his daughters, Sondra Todd of El Dorado, Kansas, Ruth Hurst of Lawrence, Kansas, and Evelyn Todd of Wichita, Kansas; and six grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place.  Services were held on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at the Gridley Cemetery.  Lloyd G. Zimmerman officiated.  Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard, Kansas was in charge of arrangements.

(published in the Winfield Daily Courier)