To the Core
J. Robert “Bob” Berg, professor emeritus of geology, was recognized as an integral part of the Wichita State community in 1996 with a Recognition Award from the WSU Alumni Association.
It was fitting that he be recognized, for he had dedicated more than half of his worklife to WSU, where he arrived in 1946 as an associate professor of geology. He went on to serve as the geology department chair from 1953-63 and from 1976-81.
He also served as Student Services dean (1961-65), as University College and Continuing Education dean (1961-69) and as the director of program development (1969-71).
Listed in American Men of Science and Leaders in American Science, Berg published widely in his field, was awarded research grants by the Wichita Industrial Research Foundation and the Army Corps of Engineers. He served as Colonel in the Army, retiring in 1972 as a member of the intelligence community. He trained over 30 scientists who went on to find success in the field of geology.
His achievements in the field of science and his visibility on campus were behind the university’s decision to name an annual geology lecture series after him.
In 1983, he married Marijean (Robertson) Rickard ’70/72, who, along with a son, Richard, survives him. Berg died March 7 in Andover, Kan.
— Jedd Beaudoin ’01
Lasting Ties
Willa (Sinclair) McLean ’33, a retired elementary school teacher, dedicated her life to education and family. An early teacher at schools with integrated faculty, she began teaching in 1930 and retired in 1971, after 40 years with Wichita public schools.
While a student at the University of Wichita, she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, an organization she was active in throughout her life. Always supportive of family and community, she assisted her sisters in attending WU and was an active volunteer with such associations as the YWCA and the American Red Cross. She died April 23 in Wichita, at the age of 100.
Legacy of Generosity
Whether Shockers knew Mary Inez Woodman personally, they know her name and the legacy of her generosity.
Although she was not a graduate of WSU, the university seemed never far from her mind. She and her late husband K.T. ’36 supported various university endeavors, including providing the alumni association with the gift that allowed the Woodman Alumni Center to become a reality in 1989.
The Woodmans were also instrumental in the refurbishing of the track at Cessna Stadium in 1985, and in the ’90s, Mrs. Woodman and her four daughters endowed the K.T. Woodman Scholarship for track athletes, one of the sports in which K.T. received his seven letters before graduating.
For her dedication and generosity to WSU, Mrs. Woodman was awarded an honorary degree from the university in 1989 and was also a co-recipient of the Fairmount Founders’ Award that year. She and K.T. also were presented an Achievement Award from the WSU Alumni Association in 1992.
In addition to her many philanthropic activities, she was a homemaker and mother of four daughters, all of whom attended the university: Elaine Brady ’61, June Adams ’64, Eledra Roulier ’65 and Roberta “Bobbi” Torrison ’66.
Mary Woodman died May 29 in Lawrence, Kan.
— Jedd Beaudoin ’01
Alta (Wheat) Alberga ’53/54, artist and owner of Studio Gallery Atalier in Greenville, S.C., former assistant professor and head of visual arts at Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C., Aug. 8, 2001, Greenville. Alberga, who was presented the University of Wichita’s first master’s degree in art in 1953, also holds the distinction of being the first WU art graduate to exhibit works in a university gallery.
Daniel Alfaro ’58/59, musician, former public school music teacher and retired Metropolitan State College faculty member, Denver, Colo., March 31, Denver.
Prunella M. (Christopher) Angulo ’42, homemaker, May 23, Santa Barbara, Calif.
John T. Barr ’86, doctor of osteopathy, May 19, Marion.
Sylvia S. Bavelas fs ’92, businesswoman and missionary, Feb. 11, Wichita.
Marilyn Kay (Thompson) Beaupeurt ’95, Independent Living Resource Center social worker, Feb. 7, Wichita.
N. June Bennett ’70, retired teacher, former antique shop owner, Dec. 13, 2002, Saint Paul, Kan.
Patricia J. (Keough) Bernhard ’50, retired Boeing Wichita clerk typist, March 9, Wichita.
Charles A. Blum ’89/02, mechanical engineer for Boeing Wichita, April 11, Wichita.
Phyllis (Williams) Brosemer ’70, homemaker, retired teacher and florist, May 12, Florence, Kan.
Gerald E. Brown ’65, retired engineer, Dec. 22, 2002, Enid, Okla.
Jerry D. Bupp ’57/62, sales representative for Professional Detailing Inc., Upper Saddle River, N.J., former Parke Davis pharmaceutical representative and former junior high and high school teacher and coach, March 27, Wichita. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Bupp coached the University of Wichita baseball team in 1957.
Bernard E. “Bernie” Calkins ’35, retired senior contracts administrator for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Houston, Texas, former president of Rapid Transit Lines Inc. and former accountant with the Santa Fe Trail Transportation Co., May 15, Houston.
Jeanine J. Carson ’74, retired American Red Cross social worker, March 14, Wichita.
Dennis E. Cavalier ’75, athletic director and football coach for the Pampa, Texas, Integrated School District, May 24, Pampa.
Linda S. (Anderson) Chappell ’73, homemaker, Feb. 4, Joliet, Ill.
Greg A. Collette ’94, medical technologist, March 20, Concordia, Kan.
Nancy M. (Schiller) Conley ’82, physician assistant and medical technician, March 8, Goddard, Kan.
Dow D. Conrad fs ’56, auditor with America Inventory Services Inc., April 8, Wichita.
Elizabeth I. Crane ’74, retired registered nurse, former assistant professor of nursing, Saint Mary of the Plains College, and U.S. Army Nursing Corps 2nd lieutenant stationed in India during World War II, May 26, Wichita.
Mildred B. (Sands) Crowder ’58, retired teacher, Feb. 7, Newton, Kan.
Allene (Smith) Cruit ’60, retired Wichita public school teacher, Feb. 4, Wichita.
Meuli A. “Mac” Curry ’40, retired office equipment sales manager, San Antonio, Texas, and World War II and Korean Conflict veteran, March 27, Albuquerque, N.M.
Robert O. Dalton ’47, vice president of public finance for George K. Baum & Co., Wichita, former owner of Valentine Manufacturing (later Pyramid Manufacturing), Wichita, former chairman of the board of Bridal Cave Development Co., Camdenton, Mo., and World War II veteran, Feb. 7, Wichita.
Elmer Lee Dilsaver ’76, former Head Shoe Store employee, Feb. 4, Hoyt, Kan.
Barbara K. Edwards ’87, supervisor for the McClain Food Co., Wichita, and former real estate agent, May 5, Newton, Kan. While attending Wichita State, she was a member of the national championship women’s bowling team.
Cal D. Elmore ’65, former maintenance carpenter for Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla., May 21, Harper, Kan. In 1992, Elmore was inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame. A premier middle-distance runner during his collegiate career (1961-65), he twice captured the Missouri Valley Conference cross country championship.
Antone D. Falletti ’38, retired geological consultant, World War II mapmaker for General Patton and sports enthusiast, April 5, Evansville, Ind.
Janet L. Flowerday fs ’89, retired teacher and homemaker, March 8, Derby, Kan.
John L. Foster ’74/76, Johnson County sheriff and former chief of police for the city of Lenexa, Kan., March 6, Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Nellie I. (Weston) Gilliland ’58, retired elementary school teacher, March 22, Wichita.
Edward J. Groth ’42, retired senior engineer for Motorola and award-winning model railroader, March 2, Scottsdale, Ariz.
James J. Hein ’70, Mitsubishi production manager, March 28, Indianapolis, Ind.
Margaret C. (Evans) Hodgson ’38, homemaker, retired secretary and social worker, March 16, Denver, Colo.
Norma J. (Kirkham) Ireland ’70, retired high school teacher, musician and Mensa member, March 16, Baton Rouge, La.
Priscilla Mildred (Smith) Johnson ’60, retired teacher, May 17, Wichita.
Kenneth C. Kimmel ’48, retired Juvenile and Probate Judge of Sedgwick County 18th District Court, former claims attorney for USF & G and later the insurance agency of Beezley, Outland & Foote, former private-practice lawyer and World War II veteran, March 17, Wichita.
Mary E. Kirkpatrick ’62, former elementary teacher and retired CPA and partner in Kirkpatrick & Sprecker Certified Public Accountants, Wichita, May 28, Grove, Okla.
James D. “Jim” Kocher ’96, certified physical therapist assistant, May 11, Whitewater, Kan.
M. Reinolda Korbe ’37, retired medical technician, former elementary school teacher and sister in the order of Adorers of the Blood of Christ, March 28, Wichita.
Wilmer Clyde Krug ’52, retired project engineer, Cessna Aircraft Co., March 29, Wichita.
Troy A. Malone ’89, elementary school music teacher, April 14, Kansas City, Mo.
Aurelia A. (Dolch) McDaniels ’63, retired high school math and science teacher, April 1, Derby, Kan.
Leah J. McFarland ’70, retired junior high school counselor, March 5, Wichita.
Edna M. McPeak ’59, retired Wichita elementary school teacher and homemaker, April 4, Encinitas, Calif.
Ruth A. (Callis) Moberly ’66, retired physical education teacher, Feb. 12, Wichita.
Jeanette Munger ’48, retired elementary school teacher, March 22, Wichita.
Elwyn H. Nagel ’58, buffalo rancher and managing member of F.G. Holl Co. LLC, an oil and gas business, former psychology instructor and researcher in technical and vocational education at the University of North Dakota, Grand Rapids, and former associate professor in rehabilitation counseling at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, March 11, Wichita.
R. Thomas Orr ’43, retired professional fund raiser with Orr Funds Inc., May 26, Wichita.
David M. Overton fs ’50, retired regional salesman for Vulcan Material Co., chemical division, May 5, Tucker, Ga.
Alice E. “Betty” (Campbell) Pate ’75, homemaker and retired elementary school teacher, May 15, Overland Park, Kan.
Phillip D. Pehde ’66, former professional baseball player and CPA, April 6, Wichita.
Maxine L. (Bailey) Pierce ’29, homemaker, May 16, Wichita.
Mary A. (Goering) Preheim ’71, retired elementary school teacher, May 3, Wichita.
John R. Pruitt ’67/70, retired Chem-Trol manager, Gard’n Wise salesman and Pruitt Family Owned Hardware and Garden Center owner, May 31, Wichita.
Karen L. (Williams) Pyle ’60, Denver Lutheran High School guidance director, March 3, Arvada, Colo.
Richard V. “Doc” Ramsey ’65, World War II veteran, retired Cessna aeronautical engineer and former aeronautical engineer for Boeing Wichita, April 5, El Dorado, Kan.
Sharolyn K. (Kelley) Ramsey ’70/81, retired elementary and special education teacher, Feb. 6, Mulvane, Kan.
Audrey E. Reeves ’69, homemaker and retired elementary school teacher, Feb. 11, Wichita.
Marc Sandusky ’37, retired farmer, March 25, Bentonville, Ark.
Florence M. (Froman) Schaar ’39, retired Wichita public school teacher, Feb. 12, Wichita.
Thomas E. Schmitt ’59, retired contractor with Schmitt Paint and Wallpaper Co., May 6, Hutchinson, Kan.
John J. Sheridan ’77, retired correctional administrator for the state of New Hampshire, former professor of criminal justice at the University of New Hampshire and Vietnam War veteran, April 12, Bow, N.H.
Wilma E. Skiles ’66, former high school business teacher, Feb. 11, Wichita.
Donald A. Small ’38/64, retired farmer, former high school teacher and World War II veteran, Feb. 24, Wichita.
Mary C. (Bruner) Stokely ’38, retired nuclear medicine technologist, Aug. 10, 2002, Titusville, Fla.
Garnis Lynn Sutton ’63, Boeing Wichita employee, May 19, Derby, Kan.
Marsha S. McMullen ’91, claims examiner for the Veterans’ Administration, Feb. 12, Wichita.
Yolanda E. Tucker ’88, artist and homemaker, April 3, Wichita.
Leonard W. Van Camp ’56/57, retired Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville director of choral activities, May 5, Edwardsville, Ill.
Lina K. Volgamore ’84, elementary school teacher, Feb. 10, Haysville, Kan.
Dorothy Wadsworth ’60/62, retired professor of communication and design at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan., Feb. 5, Eudora, Kan.
John H. Wenzel fs ’32, attorney honored in 1995 by the Kansas Bar Association for 60 years of service, May 7, Wichita. He is survived by his wife, Esther (Myers) Wenzel ’34, the first person to be employed as a full-time administrative professional for the university’s alumni association.
Wanda J. Westmoreland ’67/81, retired teacher, Feb. 28, Grandview, Mo.
Lloyd L. Wright ’57, retired controller and assistant director for Urban Renewal, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Korean Conflict veteran, May 12, Oklahoma City.
