John E. Bethel

John E. Bethel, 92, of Merriam, Kansas, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2011, at his home with his three daughters present.

John was born May 13, 1919, the third of seven children of Sarah Luvina and John Franklin Bethel at Warrensburg, Missouri. John proudly served as a navigator in the U.S. Army Air Corps where he flew over 2,000 hours delivering bombers and transport aircraft in every theater of WWII. He was honorably discharged as a Captain in 1946. John married Josephine Hitt of Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1944, whom he met while on a layover inNashville and they eventually settled in Kansas City. When his tour of duty ended, John attended what is now UMKC, graduating in 1950 with a degree in Accounting. John retired after 35 years with the Carter-Waters Corporation where he served as Secretary-Treasurer.

John was a faithful member of the Merriam Christian Church where he served as an Elder among other leadership positions. He also was an active member and served as past president of both the Kansas City Optimist Club and the Kansas City Wholesale Credit Association.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine of 61 years in 2005, three brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his sister Lucille Van Zant of Prairie Village and his daughters â"€ Virginia C. Bethel of Merriam, Francie E. Bethel of Shawnee, and Katherine D. Wilson and husband George of Overland Park, seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. The great-grandchildren were a special joy to John in the last few years.

John was a caring, gentle, and kind-hearted man. Those who knew John loved him and he excelled in his roles of son, brother, friend, grandfather but he especially shined as Dad to his three daughters whom he loved unconditionally and who will miss him forever.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Merriam Christian Church, 9401 Johnson Drive, Merriam, Kansas 66203 or Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, Missouri 64114.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, Octoaber 6, 2011, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 7, 2011 at the chapel. The burial will follow immediately at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, 23215 W. 75th Street, Shawnee, Kansas.