Newell Ray Todd

Newell Ray Todd age 94, of Louisburg, KS passed away Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Louisburg Care Center. Mr. Newell Ray Todd was born December 18, 1915 in Hatfield, Missouri to Alvin Ray Todd and Christina Woods Todd. He married Dorothy Virginia Patterson on November 22, 1936 in Troy, Kansas. They have been married for 73 years. Newell graduated from Oregon High School in Oregon, Missouri. He studied Industrial Relations, Labor Law and Arbitration through extension courses at Arkansas University and Oklahoma University. He was employed by Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company from 1940-1963. While there, he became active with the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union and represented the company employees as chairman of the negotiating committee and President of the Kansas City Local Union 5-348. During his years in Louisburg, he served on the Louisburg School District Board of Education. He was a member of the Louisburg American Legion and Louisburg United Methodist Church. Newell served in the Navy during World War II in the Seabees Construction Battalion in the South Pacific. In 1963 he accepted full time employment with the International Union and moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1967, Newell was appointed as Presidential Assistant and was transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1975, he was promoted to Director of District 5 of OCAW. While in Tulsa, he served 6 years on the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Newell retired in 1981 and he and Dorothy returned to Louisburg, Kansas. He is a member of the Louisburg United Methodist Church and was active in supporting his grand children in many of the programs through the Louisburg Public Schools. He was preceded in death: his parents, Alvin Ray Todd and Christina Woods Todd of Hatfield, Missouri Survivors include his wife of 73 years, Dorothy Todd of the home, 2 sons, Larry G. Todd and wife Roylene, Grove, Oklahoma; Terry J. Todd and wife Nancy, Aurora, Colorado; 4 grandsons, Mike Todd, Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Randy Todd, Louisburg, Kansas; Geoff Todd, Branson, Missouri; Matt Todd, Lawrence, Kansas. 8 - Great Grandchildren, 3 - Great Great Grandchildren, 2 " nieces, Karen Wikholm, Greeley, Colorado; Sharon Noel, Casper, Wyoming. The family suggests memorial contributions to Louisburg United Methodist Church. Louisburg United Methodist Church Service: Saturday, September 25, 2010 2:00 PM Visitation: Saturday, September 25, 2010 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM