Cecil Eugene "Gene" Vining

Cecil Eugene “Gene” Vining, 87, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2022, at his Richmond, KS, home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Richmond United Methodist Church. Family will meet with friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 6, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Interment Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, KS. Cecil was born March 25, 1935, on the south side of the Franklin/Douglas County line in the Norwood Community to Cecil Harry and Beatrice Ila (Loree) Vining. When he was four years old, they moved northeast of Richmond where he attended Star country school for three years then Richmond grade and high schools. He was active in 4-H, played basketball and graduated in 1953. After working one year for Albert Dunbar, he attended Kansas State University where he met Pat Clary at the Wesley Foundation. He also was active in Methodist Men and Collegiate 4-H, but especially enjoyed going to Wildcat ball games. He and Pat married January 26, 1958, in Manhattan. He graduated from K-State with a B.S. in agriculture (animal science) in Spring 1959 and returned to the family farm, where he lived and farmed from age 4 to his passing. More than anything else related to farming, he liked to be out on a tractor, working the fields and watching the crops grow to maturity, especially soybeans. He had a sow and pig, then market pig operation for some years. It seemed like he was always repairing machinery, trying to get some more wear out of a tractor or combine or something else. After retiring from active farming, he still had four antique tractors and used one of them to mow. Cecil also served in the Kansas National Guard for 9 years. Cecil and Pat had three children: Becky Ann born in Manhattan in 1959; Brian Eugene born in Ottawa in 1961 who passed away of cancer in 1994; and Rachel Ellen born in Ottawa in 1964. Over the years, Cecil enjoyed family activities such as camping for family vacations, especially to the Rocky Mountains and Ozarks, and watching K-State and Kansas City ball games and he volunteered at Central Heights ball games. He also enjoyed his antique tractors in Power of the Past and tractor shows. For the Richmond Fair, he served as livestock superintendent, parade superintendent for 25 years and he and Pat were recognized Grand Marshals in 2000. He and Pat traveled to 49 states, Mexico and Canada, often in their RV. He was very active in the community, serving as president of the new Central Heights Board of Education and on Co-op board, Extension Council, Farm Bureau, Rural Water District, Richmond-Berea Cemetery (for 25 years), Richmond Lion's Club and others. As a Kansas Grain Sorghum commissioner, he went on a marketing trip to China, Japan and South Korea. In 2017 he was inducted into the Central Heights Ring of Honor in recognition of his years of service to the district. He was a lifelong member of the Richmond United Methodist Church and served in numerous leadership and service roles, including mowing the yard. Survivors include his wife, Pat, of 64 years; daughters Becky (Kim) Koch, Tucson, AZ, and Rachel (Jonathan) Casey, Kansas City, MO; and grandchildren Laura and Libby Casey, and Kenyon Koch. Son Brian Vining preceded him in death on December 23, 1994. Additional survivors are brothers-in-law Leon Daniels, Marshfield, MO, and Darrell Hutchinson, Georgetown, TX; sister-in-law Donis Barker, Banning, CA; eight nieces and nephews; and several cousins. The family suggest memorial contributions to the KSU Johnson Cancer Research Center or Richmond United Methodist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.