John E. Dryden, Sr.

John Edward Dryden, Sr. was born on Monday, January 26, 1931, in Thayer, Kansas. He was the son of Harold and Blanche (Cranor) Dryden. John lived in Fredonia, Kansas, until moving to the Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas area in 1956, where he made his home until his death on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, at the age of seventy-six years. John graduated from Fredonia High School with the class of 1948. He was a lithographic plate printer in Fredonia from 1948 to 1951. In 1956, he began his sales career with Moore Chevrolet dealership in Ottawa. In 1976, he became employed at Ned Hiatt's Country Sales, Lake Pomona, retiring in 1991. He continued to work part time at various dealerships, including Crist Auto and RV Sales. He served in the Army National Guard from 1950 to 1952, earning the rank of Master Sgt., serving with the Charley Battery 195 Field Artillery Battalion. During this time, he was stationed at Fort Worth, Washington, Fort Wetumka, Arizona, Beal Air Force Base in California, and Fort Riley in Kansas. John attended First Baptist Church in Ottawa. He was a former member of Warren Black Post #60, American Legion; Ottawa Lodge #803, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Aerie Lodge #2700, Fraternal Order of Eagles. On October 29, 1950, John was united in marriage with Darlene Woodruffe in Independence, Kansas. She survives of their home. He is also survived by four daughters, Brenda Jackson and her husband, Terry, of Ottawa, Teresa Jewett and her husband, Scott, of Derby, Kansas, Rhonda Thomas and her husband, Don, of Crawfordsville, IA, Annette Bentley and her husband, Larry, of Topeka, Kansas; two sons, Steve Dryden and his wife, Karen, of Ottawa, John Dryden, Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, of Ottawa; sister, Norma Jean Uitts and her husband, Kenneth, of Independence, Kansas; twenty grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; two infant sons, Carl Wayne and Michael Leroy Dryden; grandson, Michael Dryden; and two great-granddaughters, Sadye Circle and Jessica Guyett. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2007. IN STATE: Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Dryden at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 9:00 a.m. Monday to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends 7 to 8 Monday evening. CEMETERY: The Fredonia Cemetery, Fredonia, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to John Dryden, Sr. Memorial Fund, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.