Classmate recalls Newcomer

To the Editor:

I feel compelled to write a bit more about John Newcomer than what was in his obituary. A few people in Marion will remember him and his parents.

John was born July 17, 1934, in Marion to John Ira “Newt” and Mildred (Firebaugh) Newcomer. His dad had the Ford Motor Company for many years and both parents were involved in the Valley Methodist Church.

John was educated in the Marion school system, participating in football, basketball, and baseball. He was student council president his senior year and was a loyal member of the “famous” Class of ‘52! Seldom did he miss an Old Settlers Day, and did not miss a class reunion until the 60th in 2012.

He graduated from Kansas State University in 1957. He married Caroline (Coolie) Buchanon in 1957 and their family grew to six with the births of their children Jeff, Doug, and twins Denise and David.

John worked for eight years in the aerospace industry in Wichita and Denver. He became owner of a moving and storage business in Denver, living there 43 years.

John and his parents were good friends with Margaret and Gordon Wolf and their daughter, Sarabel “Susie” Garrison of Emporia and Norma and Roger Hannaford and my brother Bud and myself — involving many grilled hamburgers at the Marion County Lake during the ‘40s and ‘50s, during the depression and WWII years. How we looked forward to those picnics almost every week!

John suffered many years of ill health and not once did I hear a complaint or “poor me” even to the end of his life. RIP, my friend.

Mary Hannaford Exline

Salina, KS