Martha Joy (Lantz) Louderback

Martha “Joy” Lantz Louderback, 91, a former Franklin County resident, passed away Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Eagle Estates Assisted Living Center in Independence, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 1:00 P.M. Friday, August 16, 2013. Friends may pay their respects to Mrs. Louderback at Dengel & Son Mortuary from 1:00 to 9:00 P.M. Thursday, August 15, 2013. Interment Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Kansas. Joy was born on April 10, 1922 in Princeton, Kansas. She was the daughter of Jerry and Sarah (Price) Lantz. She attended Princeton Old District 63 and graduated from Princeton High School with the class of 1940. She continued her education, taking business classes at Chanute Junior College. She later worked for Star Grain and Lumber Company in Princeton. After her children were in school, she worked for Parmalee Products and King Radio, retiring in 1984. She lived on a farm near Homewood, the Ottawa area, and Williamsburg. In 1942 Joy married Bill Reekie. They later divorced. In 1980, she married Chester Louderback. He preceded her in death in 1999. Joy worked many years in the Jolly Junior 4-H Club at Homewood and later in the Far & Near 4-H Club in Williamsburg, serving as leader and in many other areas of the clubs. She belonged to the Loyal Neighbors HDU for many years and volunteered at the Williamsburg Nutrition Site for over twenty years. She was appointed to serve as board member for the Area Agency On Aging for Franklin County, serving for six years, as well as working on the county Transportation Board representing “seniors”. Joy became a member of the Princeton Christian Church in 1932. She later joined Homewood Christian Church where she served for a number of years as Sunday School Superintendent and taught in Bible School and beginning Sunday School classes. Joy loved camping, fishing, volunteering, and spending time with her children, grandchildren and later her great grandchildren. She moved to Independence in 2011 to be closer to her daughter. Survivors include her three children, Chris Reekie and wife Lila of Williamsburg; Penny McClure of Plano, Texas; and Lea Shepard and husband Kevin of Independence, Kansas; five grandchildren, Ian Reekie and wife Marcella of St. George, Kansas; Shannon McClure-Lechtenberg and husband Drew of Lawrence; Jason McClure and wife Amy of Lucas, Texas; Daniel Shepard of New York, New York; and Keith Shepard of Springfield, Missouri; seven great grandchildren, Sierra and Savannah Clark; Aislinn Reekie; Kyle and Jack McClure; and Bradley and Natasha Lechtenberg; three sisters-in-law, Jessie Lantz of Princeton, Kansas, Velma Louderback of Princeton, Kansas and Gladys Welton of Ottawa, Kansas; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Joy was preceded in death by her husband, Chet; parents, Jerry and Sarah Lantz; sisters, Frances, Rilla, Vera, Beth, Nellie, Stella, and Lois; brothers, Jesse, Everett, Clifford, John, and Gene. The family suggests memorial contributions to Homewood Christian Community and Bible Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.