VALLEY CENTER, KS
Slenker, William McDonald "Don", 94, of Walsenburg, Colorado, formerly of Valley Center, Kansas, passed away on March 31, 2012. He was born in September 22, 1917 in East Lynn, Missouri to Isaac and Jennie Freude Slenker. Don served in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Chief Radioman from December 15, 1941 to December 23, 1946. Right after he enlisted his unit flew into Pearl Harbor and he said "it was a mess". He married Ethel Louise Rhoades Forsythe on August 14, 1954. Don was a long time member of Faith Bible Baptist Church in Valley Center, Kansas. He is preceded in death by his wife Ethel Louise Slenker, his mother, Jennie, his father Isaac, his sisters, Alice and Mary, and his brothers, Harold and Albert. Don is survived by his daughter, Gerri Rhoades Stevens of Weston, Colorado; granddaughters, Debbie Hicks of Wichita, Connie Gilbert of Richland, Missouri; grandson, Donald Blanchard of Lebanon, Missouri; great granddaughters, Candace Decker of Lebanon, Missouri, Romona Gilbert of Springfield, Missouri; great grandsons, Jacob Hicks of Wichita, Zachary Blanchard, U.S. Navy, Patrick Blanchard of Lebanon, Missouri; great great granddaughter, Kennedy Decker of Lebanon, Missouri; sister, Marion DeShazer of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; his sister-in-law, Nellie Davis of Wewoka, Oklahoma; many nieces, nephews, and other family. A cremation was performed and his memorial Services will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 21, 2012, at the Baker Funeral Home, 100 S. Cedar, Valley Center, Kansas. A graveside service will follow at Sunnydale Park Cemetery with Military Honors. www.bakerfhvc.com