Frank Donald "Don" Colborn
Salina - Frank Donald "Don"
Colborn was born November 14, 1927 in Kiowa, Kansas. He was one of
eight sons of Frank F. and Grace (Van Huss) Colborn. He died at
Salina Regional Hospital, November 8, 2021, six days before his 94th
birthday.
Don attended grade schools in Barber
County and graduated from Medicine Lodge (Kansas) High School in
1946. He joined the United States Navy and spent two years in service
including a one year posting in Pearl Harbor. After returning home to
Thayer, Kansas, Don worked in a variety of positions until 1952, when
he enrolled at Chanute Junior College. He later attended Emporia
State University (ESU), earning the B.S. and M.S. in English
Education.
On March 12, 1954, Don married Peggy
Martin in Emporia, Kansas. To this union, seven children were born.
Don taught at Newton Junior and Senior
High Schools for 30 years, during which time he served as junior high
school drama coach, speech and English instructor, and sponsor of
many extra-curricular youth groups. He was a member of the National
Education Association (NEA), Kansas branch of theNEA (KNEA), and
served as president and treasurer of Newton branch of the KNEA.
Don was a member of the U.S. National
Guard for three years. He spent his summers fulfilling his Guard
duties, and as a mechanic with Dey Farm Supply, as well as continuing
graduate education at ESU. He also found time to work closely with
his children in all their activities; taking them fishing and
camping, teaching them to play tennis, and serving as a Scoutmaster
and Little League baseball coach.
While in Newton, Don was baptized into
the Catholic Church and took an active role in Knights of Columbus
and as a church lector. He also volunteered in the Catholic Youth
Organization drama activities.
In 1984, the Colborns moved to Colby,
Kansas. Don resumed his teaching career at Oakley High School, where
he taught English and sponsored yearbook for seven years.
After his retirement in 1992, the
Colborns spent two years traveling throughout the United States and
spending time with their extended families, after which they
resettled in Solomon, Kansas, where Don was able to indulge in
full-time gardening, his lifelong hobby, as well as playing cards
with friends.
Don was preceded in death by his eldest
son, Alan, his parents, one sister, Darlene, and six brothers:
Robert, Harold, Lester, Russell, Kenneth and Jerry; and his
Godparents, Lee and May Hensler. He is survived by his spouse Peg of
the home; four sons - Martin (Roxann), Newton; Michael (Kathleen),
Newton; Richard, Salina; David (Cristi), Cleveland, West Virginia;
two daughters: Cathy (William) Summers of Albany, Oregon; Amy
(Richard) Vigil, Lynchburg, Virginia; 12 grandchildren, 15
great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one brother Jack
(Charlott) of Chanute, Kansas; many cousins, nieces and nephews, a
host of friends as well as thousands of former students, fellow
teachers and professional associates.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church in Solomon on Saturday,
November 13, 2021 at 10:00 AM; Father John Wolesky, officiating.
Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Solomon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests
donations to the Alan J. Colborn Memorial at Caring Hands Humane
Society in Newton, KS; Immaculate Conception Church in Solomon; or
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Salina; sent directly or in care of
Ryan Mortuary, Salina.
