Obituary

Chester Ray Unruh

Obituary

Chester Ray Unruh died of natural causes on Friday, April 8, 2016, at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Katy, Texas.

Chester was born with a twin sister Esther to Carl Lyman and Ida Elizabeth (Albright) Unruh on January 31, 1918, in Pretty Prairie, where he received his early education. He attended Bethel College in Newton, receiving an A.B. degree in mathematics and science. Chester was a talented athlete in high school, where he lettered in four sports, accumulating awards in football, basketball, track and tennis.

He set a school record in pole vault and low hurdles, played on a state championship basketball team in 1935 and, with his twin sister, won a regional tennis match in 1936.

He competed and lettered in those same sports at Bethel College, playing the quarterback position in football. He then spent 15 years as a teacher and coach in high schools at Baxter Springs, Larned, Pretty Prairie and Clay Center.

On May 22, 1943, he was united in marriage to Ferne L Westerman in Winter Garden, FL. She preceded him in death on June 6, 2009. His early teaching career was interrupted with nearly five years in the United States Army, serving over two years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His last two assignments included serving as a Battery Commander, assigned to the security of the Pacific Commander's Headquarters in Manila and as a member of the Sixth Army Command in the occupation of Japan.

Although he returned to the States to continue his career in education, he also continued his service to his country in the Kansas National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel with command of the 226th Combat Engineer Battalion in Wichita. He was the Station Commander of the Kansas National Guard Armory in Manhattan during the 1960s.

Chester received his M.S. degree from Kansas State University in 1956. In 1961, he joined the facility of Kansas State University, with the assignment of publication editor for the Cooperative Extension Service. It is from there he retired as Professor Emeritus in 1983.

At Kansas State University, he was Head of the Office of Extension Publications and also directed its Duplicating and Distribution Centers. He served two terms on the Faculty Senate and was a member of the Faculty Affairs Committee, serving as chairman for one year. He was a member of the National and Regional Association of the Agricultural Communicators in Education, serving on the National AACE Publication Judging Team in 1974 and was chairman of the ACE Technical Committee on Publications in 1979. He received the ACE Award of Excellence on Publications in 1981.

Chester served on many related committees including the National 4-H Committee to assess the 4-H Bibliographic Computer Data System, the State Educational Information Center Committee and the Kansas Teachers and Employees Investment Committee. He was a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Chester also enjoyed K-State athletics and attended many sporting events as a season ticket holder and contributed to them for many years. He enjoyed playing golf and regularly played the Manhattan Country Club golf course until his late 80s.

He was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder and a teacher in the adult education program.

He is survived by son Chester Jr. and wife Peggy and grandchildren Kimberly Routon, Jonathan and Melanie; daughter Candace Beck and grandchildren Jim, Stephanie and Sarah; daughter Kay Hileman and husband Bill and grandchildren Brian and Brett; five great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, at the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Kansas. The family will receive friends at the church before the service at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association .

To leave online condolences visit our website at: irvinparkview.com. Arrangements by Irvin ~ Parkview Funeral Home & Cremation, Manhattan, Kansas.