Myron Bruce "Corky" Welton

Myron Bruce “Corky” Welton born July 20, 1949 in Ottawa, Kansas. He passed from natural causes on September 24, 2020 in Ottawa, Kansas. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2020 at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. He was the only son of Bruce Welton (1923-2001) and Carol Morrow Welton of Ottawa; he leaves behind two sons. John Welton is a pastor in Winfield, KS and Eric Welton works for the Colorado Department of Transportation, Wellington, CO. He is preceded in death by an infant son, Jason Welton; his father, Bruce Welton, and grandparents. He spent his childhood years on a farm southwest of Ruhamah Baptist Church near Rantoul, KS. He learned his love of the outdoors and developed a passion for hunting with his father and friends. He enjoyed track and field; his favorite event was the pole vault. As an only child, he naturally became self-sufficient. He loved the library for its wealth of knowledge. He acquired many skills from dog training to swimming by reading and then teaching himself. A trend he continued throughout life. He used his savings to buy a set of drums and joined a local band playing in the 1960s. He graduated Ottawa High School in the Class of 1968. He worked several jobs in Ottawa before realizing education was his future. He earned two degrees, BS & MS at Emporia State University in the field of psychology. He became a member of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. He got his first taste of martial arts while an undergraduate. He met an education student, Kathleen Aldrich of Bush City, Kansas. They married on December 23, 1973 and later divorced. They had three sons. After receiving degrees, they both worked in education in Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Myron worked with pioneering special education in Marshalltown, Iowa. He traveled widely as a school psychologist in Kansas City and Leavenworth, KS. He worked for the North Kansas City Schools and studied administration. His final years were spent in several school districts in Kansas as his health declined. He retired after more than 30 years in public education. Myron was best known for his hobby’s karate, hunting, and the outdoors. He became a second-degree black belt in Ryukyu Kempo Karate which he choose for its athleticism and philosophy. Since childhood he was an avid upland game hunter. He loved the solitude found in big game season. The only vacation he could take effectively were to National Parks like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. He instilled this love to his sons. His volunteer services were peaceful. He taught children’s and adult Sunday school at First Presbyterian Church, Liberty, MO. He served on the board of a before and after school program for elementary age children. He was an advocate for equal justice under law for special education, race, and class in public schools. He had a heart for feeding ministries for those less fortunate. He passed away on September 24, 2020. He leaves behind sons, John and Eric Welton; his mother, Carol Welton; aunts: Betty Kirkland, Mary Morrow, and Vada Cartmill. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Ottawa Public Library c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067.