Obituary

Van Cleve Lincoln "George" Sooter, Halstead, businessman and retired farmer, 70, died Tuesday October 6, 1991 at HCA Wesley Hospital, Wichita, Kansas. He was born February 22, 1922 at Dodge City, Kansas, the son of Ray Evan and Jessie Marie Sooter
He and his family moved from Dodge City to Coldwater, Kansas where he attended the Coldwater Schools. He served in World War II as a Cadet stationed in Guam from 1942 to 1946.

He moved to Halstead in 1950. On March 24, 1951, he married Maurita Jean Hensley. He worked for his father-in-law, Harvey Hensley, at Hensley Super Service Station for several years. He was the owner of the original Dairy Inn at the Corner of First and Main in Halstead in the 1950's. He was also the owner of Sooter Warehouse and Sooter Car Wash.

George was the driving force in the development of Halstead Industrial Park and was president of the Halstead Industrial Foundation Corporation. He was directly responsible for the location of a branch warehouse of Patrick Industries in Halstead. He gave many hours of community service and was the recipient of the Good Neighbor Award in 1986. He was a member of American Legion Post 231, Halstead and a member of the Halstead Historical Society.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Eric Sooter, Melbourne, Florida and Craig Sooter, Wichita, Kansas; daughter, Georgjean Raetz, Madison, Alabama; two brothers, Jay Dean Sooter, Wichita and Jack Sooter, El Segundo, California; two sisters, Bette E. Christianson, Camdenton, Missouri and Wanda L. Kennedy, Wichita and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Frances L. Marie Crowe, Weltha Ann Sooter and Dorothy Jean Sherman.

Services will be held Friday. Burial will be in the Halstead Cemetery.