Ralph D. Garland

Ralph Devillin Garland was born on Tuesday, February 4, 1941, in Mound Valley, Kansas, where he was raised. He was the son of Orville Devillin and Maxine Clara (Elliott) Garland. He spent his youth in Southeast Kansas before making his way to Kansas City, Missouri, moving to Ottawa, in Franklin County, Kansas, in 1973, where he made his home until his death on Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at the age of sixty-seven years. Ralph graduated from Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville, Kansas, with the class of 1959. He received his Associate in Arts Degree from Coffeyville Community College in 1961 and graduated from the Dallas Institute-Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1964. He was employed by D. W. Newcomer's and Freeman Mortuary, both in Kansas City, Missouri, and Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa in the mid 1970's. Ralph was most proud of his family and loved watching his son and grandson play sports. He also enjoyed listening to music, spending time drinking his tea and coke, and just shooting the breeze with his friends. On April 28, 1973, Ralph was united in marriage with Marlene L. McLinden in Kansas City, Missouri. She survives of their home. He is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Rachelle Garland, of Topeka, Kansas; three sisters, Mavis Schmid and her husband, Bob, of Tacoma, Washington, Virginia Robison and her husband, Harry, of Overland Park, Kansas, Nedra Kirkland, of Coffeyville, Kansas; and grandson, Brenden Garland, of Topeka, Kansas. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lawrence Garland; and three sisters, Viola Stevenson, Esther Frey, and Lela Nading. SERVICES: Graveside services will be held at Highland Cemetery in Ottawa at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 2008. IN STATE: Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Garland at the Dengel & Son Mortuary from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to noon Friday. CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Franklin County Cancer Foundation, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.