Winton Dale Town

WINTON DALE TOWN

Winton Dale Town, 80, a life-long resident of Miami County, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, at the Overland Park Regional Hospital.

Winton was the second of three sons born to Lester and Fern Town in Somerset, Kansas on September 13, 1943. He completed his elementary and middle school education at the old Somerset School house, now owned as a business by the same name by his niece Lesli Baker, before graduating from Louisburg High School in 1961. Throughout his time in high school, Winton was actively involved in sports such as football, basketball, and summer baseball.

In 1964, Winton proudly enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the dedicated ranks of the National Guards. He served with honor and distinction as an E-6 (Staff Sergeant) until his honorable discharge in 1969, during the tumultuous years of the Vietnam War. It was also during this time that Winton was united in marriage to Lynda S. Morgan in 1968. Together, they joyfully welcomed their first child, Luke Town, in 1969, followed by a daughter, Kristi (Town) Loethen, in 1971. Winton's strong hands and unwavering determination were put to work as he built their family home in Somerset in 1968 - a place that would be his sanctuary for the rest of his days.

After the sudden passing of their father, Lester, in September 1968, Winton took over the family business, Town Oil Company, and was soon joined by his brothers and partners Lester Jr. and Michael that soon grew in to multiple other business adventures in the oil, gas and coal industry. With a passion for the oil industry in his blood, Winton felt most at home on the catwalk of a drilling rig. The smell of crude oil and machinery filled his senses and covered his hands as he worked tirelessly, often putting in seven days a week without complaint. To Winton, this was not just a job but a way of life that he embraced with dedication and enthusiasm.

Winton was a lover of the great outdoors. He relished in the thrill of being a marksman, constantly seeking new challenges and adventures as a hunter, trapper, and fisherman. Together with his friends, including Army buddy and lifelong friend Paul Blackburn, he would travel to various ranges, eagerly taking part in trap shooting competitions and was considered a Class A Shooter. Winton's skills were renowned, making him one of the best shots in the entire area. His ultimate place of peace was on a small lake in a boat on an early Sunday morning, catching crappie. He was also very passionate about gardening and grew very large gardens only to give away most of the produce to friends and family.

Winton was a man whose heart overflowed with generosity, always eager to give even the shirt off his own back to a complete stranger. His love for his family and friends knew no bounds, and he cherished every moment spent with them. Whether it was a simple cup of coffee or an adventure in the great outdoors, Winton's joy in the company of others was boundless and infectious.

Lester M. Town Jr. and wife Roberta and Michael Town and wife Linda, his two brothers with their wives from Somerset, are left behind by his passing. He leaves behind two beloved children: Luke Town and his wife Carla from Rural Paola, as well as Kristi Loethen and her husband Robert, also from Rural Paola. His family includes four grandchildren: Dylan Town (31) with wife Kelsie, Dalton Town (26), Hunter Loethen (16), and Brody Loethen (9), all residing in rural Paola along with two Step-grandchildren Hailey Engelmeyer (31) of Olathe and Nicolas Johnson (26) of Springfield Mo. Additionally, he is survived by seven nieces and nephews. Leslie, Lance, Misty, Lori, Jason, Lane, and Jeff. Preceding him in death are his parents, Lester M. Town Sr., and Fern Town of Somerset.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Sunday, December 3rd from 1-3 PM at Dengel & Son Funeral Home in Paola. The funeral service will take place on Monday, December 4th at the Louisburg Baptist Temple at 10:30 AM, followed by a ceremony honoring him with a military service at the Somerset Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and/or Shriners Hospital for Children c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary-Paola Chapel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071.