Obituaries - Wednesday, March 25

Dr. Charles W. Fox

1962 - March 16, 2026

Dr. Charles Winfred Fox II passed away at home in Lindsborg, Kansas, at 1:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026. Charles was born in 1962 in Arkansas City, Kansas, to Patsy and Charles Fox, and grew up in California and Texas with his sister Patty and brother James.

Charles met his wife, Laura Crawley, in a college poetry class at the University of Texas at Austin. That meeting led to a long and happy marriage full of love and mutual support. Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, Charles joined the Lutheran church soon after marrying Laura. He was deeply influenced by the words of Lutheran philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard: “The leap of faith is not a leap into the dark, but a leap into the light.” Charles understood that leap as originating in trust that faith must be lived, not merely discussed. In this, his life also reflected the call of Jesus in Matthew 25 to care for the hungry, the stranger, the vulnerable, and the forgotten. For Charles, faith meant showing up for people with curiosity and conviction, and putting love into practice.

That grounding shaped the whole of his life. Open-hearted and thoughtful, Charles cared deeply about justice and believed in the power of words and ideas to move people toward truth and toward one another. He loved laughter, welcomed conversation, and built community wherever he went. Charles brought both intellect and feeling to the way he lived, surrounding himself with books, movies, music, and creative work. He enjoyed card games and word games, and played Wordle every day with his wife. He was funny and loved practical jokes. A former gymnast, fencer, baseball player, and weightlifter, he was also strong and disciplined.

Charles dreamed of becoming a father and rejoiced at the births of James and Laurel, whom he nicknamed Jake and Katie. He and Laura raised their children with loving care, always encouraging curiosity, faith, and service. He was deeply proud of the adults they have become and spoke with them often. Jake and Katie will miss his voice, his strong hugs, and his rock-solid, steadfast love.

Charles earned his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from George Mason University and his Ph.D. in Communications: Moving Images Studies from Georgia State University. He retired from Perimeter College at Georgia State University in 2022 after 26 years of teaching English, where he also served as Department Chair of English and Associate Dean of Student Success. He was a gifted teacher who helped students develop their own voice and trust their own ideas. One of Charles’s proudest professional accomplishments was leading the GSU Prison Education Project, which made college possible for incarcerated individuals. One of his final tasks before retirement was presiding over the GSUPEP graduation ceremony.

Retirement did not slow his sense of purpose. Charles pursued artistic, scholarly, and service projects with energy and joy. He taught part-time at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, where his wife, Dr. Laura Crawley, serves as President. He served on the Lindsborg Arts Council, sang in the Messiah Lutheran Church choir where he also played drums and guitar, and played ukelele with the Front Porch Pickers. He and his writing partner had published articles in film theory, and he had presented his scholarly work at professional conferences. Recently he was rehearsing to sing in the 145th performance of the Messiah at Bethany College and had begun serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the Bethany men’s soccer team.

Charles is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Dr. Laura Crawley, and their two children, James Kay Fox and Laurel Katherine Fox; his mother, Patsy Fox; his brother, James Fox, James’s wife, Sretna, and their daughter, Daria. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father and a faithful friend and teacher. Here, in the end, his life points us back to the truth he trusted: that faith is lived by taking the leap, not into darkness, but into the light. We know he is now comforted in the presence of that Light.

A service to celebrate the life of Charles W. Fox will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at Messiah Lutheran Church on the campus of Bethany College, 402 N. 1st Street, Lindsborg, KS 67456. A reception will follow the service.

Charles’s family requests that, instead of flowers, please consider memorial gifts to: Messiah Lutheran Church, 402 N. 1st Street, Lindsborg, KS 67456, the Lindsborg Arts Council, PO Box 53, Lindsborg, KS 67456, or the Bethany College Swede Scholarship fund, 335 E. Swensson St., Lindsborg, KS, 67456.

Ryan Mortuary

Jerry D. Vanier

October 14, 1929 - February 7, 2026

Jerry D. Vanier, 96, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2026. He was born on October 14, 1929, in Salina, KS.

Jerry lived a long, adventurous, and deeply meaningful life marked by service, vision, and independence. He was a man of wide-ranging interests, and he leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered with admiration, gratitude, and love.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John J. and Lesta L. Vanier; his first wife, Donna; his sister, Joyce (Hale); and his brother, Jack.

He is survived by his children, Jay (Melanie), Sharon (Mark), Kathleen, and Rex (Bridget), as well as six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Through them, and through the many lives he touched over the years, Jerry’s legacy of courage and love will continue.

Jerry graduated from Salina High School and went on to earn a degree in Milling Science from Kansas State University. Soon thereafter, he answered the call to serve his country during the Korean War. His military service, which concluded with his discharge from the Army as a First Lieutenant, helped shape the lifelong sense of duty patriotism for which he was known. After returning home to Salina, he joined the family milling business, continuing a family tradition of hard work and enterprise.

Aviation was one of Jerry’s greatest passions and one of the defining pursuits of his life. He earned his private pilot’s license in 1946, beginning a lifelong love of flight that eventually became not only his joy, but also his life’s work. Flying represented freedom, challenge, discipline, and adventures, all qualities that suited him well. In 1980, he purchased Yingling Aircraft Company in Wichita and built it into a nationally recognized aviation business, as well as the oldest Cessna aircraft dealership in the world. He took great pride in that accomplishment and in the relationships and reputation he built over the years. Jerry loved flying aerobatic aircraft, finding in the open sky a sense of exhilaration, beauty and freedom that perfectly reflected his adventurous spirit and fearless nature.

Beyond aviation, Jerry possessed a refined appreciation for beauty, craftsmanship, and excellence in many forms. He had a deep love of fine art and a lifelong admiration for the grace, beauty, elegance and athleticism of Saddlebred and Arabian horses. These passions reflected not only his eye for quality, but also his appreciation for discipline, form, and artistry. Whether in business, in the air, or in the pursuits he admired, Jerry was drawn to things that embodied distinction and beauty.

Jerry enjoyed the rhythm and contrast of seasonal life, spending winters in the Phoenix area and summers in Flagstaff, embracing both the warmth of the desert and the cool beauty of the mountains. He appreciated the landscapes, the climate, and the sense of freedom those places offered him. Yet Salina always remained home in the deepest sense. In January 2024, he returned to his beloved hometown, reconnecting with family and community where his life first began and where so many of his memories were rooted.

During the last chapter of his life, Jerry was especially grateful for the love, kindness, and companionship of his family, whose presence brightened his days and brought him great comfort. He deeply appreciated the many simple, but meaningful acts of care that preserved his dignity and lifted his spirits. These gestures, though humble, meant a great deal to him and reflected the deep bonds of family that remained so important throughout his life.

Jerry will be remembered as someone who embraced life fully, pursued his passions boldly, served his country honorably, and cared deeply for those he loved. He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

The Burial of the Dead with Holy Eucharist will be held at 3 p.m., at Christ Cathedral, 138 S 8th St., Salina, KS., on March 28, 2026. A reception will follow the service at the Salina Country Club.

Ryan Mortuary

Gary Ray Clarkson

May 18, 1943 - September 6, 2025

Gary Ray Clarkson, 82, of Assaria, Kan., passed away Saturday, September 6, 2025. He was born on May 18, 1943, and raised in Larned, Kan., to parents, George Raymond and Blanche (Walton) Clarkson.

Gary was united in marriage to Judith “Judy” Litchfield on July 29, 1967. They resided in Kansas and Colorado, where Gary worked for Raytheon and Beech Aircraft for over 35 years.

Gary was a jack-of-all-trades who could fix anything. He had a love of dogs and old cars and enjoyed riding his Harley. Gary was an avid hunting and fishing outdoorsman. He was a Hunter Safety Instructor for 35 years and was inducted into the Kansas Hunter Education Hall of Fame in 2012, alongside his son, Shannon. He was a proud 20-plus year cancer survivor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Bruce Clarkson, Peggy Brannan, and Nancy Chapman.

Survivors include his wife of over 58 years, Judy; twin sons, Shannon (Terri) and Matthew (Christy); grandchildren, Hunter and Blake Clarkson, and Makayla Farmer, Jaidan Hickman, Erykah Corley, Grace Hardin, Alix Engle, Hannah Clarkson, Ryin Engle, and Trey Clarkson; seven great-grandchildren; siblings, Linda Mollnow (Dan) and Mike Clarkson (Renia); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Church of Christ, 1646 N. 9th St., Salina.

Memorials may be made to Ryan Mortuary, 137 N 8th St, Salina, KS, 67401, to assist with funeral expenses.

Ryan Mortuary

Thomas "Tom" Wesley Elarton

June 14, 1936 - March 21, 2026

Thomas “Tom” Wesley Elarton, 89, of Salina, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 21, 2026.

Tom was born June 14, 1936, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Zelma (Webster) and Sidney Elarton.

He was the beloved husband of Patricia “Pat” Wineinger Elarton. Their love story began over banana cream pie in an apartment complex, thanks to an older couple who introduced them. They were married in 1965 and shared 60 loving years together.

Tom proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for 30 years of active duty, retiring with the rank of Sergeant Major.

He was a dedicated booster for women’s basketball and volleyball at Wichita State University and remained active at the East Branch YMCA in Wichita.

In his free time, Tom enjoyed golfing at Tallgrass Country Club in Wichita. He and Pat were devoted golf partners and treasured the time they spent together on the course.

Tom is survived by his wife, Pat Elarton; brother-in-law, Bruce Wineinger (Diana); and sister-in-law, Barb Wineinger.

He is also survived by nieces and nephews: Lanette Wineinger; Abbe Zeiders (Jeff); Beth Deines (Tim); Michelle Markley (Al); Brian Maddocks (Felicia); Sam Wineinger; Jen Miller (Adam); and Tad Fiser (Michelle), along with 12 great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sydney Fiser (Jim); brother-in-law, Keith Wineinger; and sister-in-law, Beverly Maddocks (Jim).

Tom’s wishes were to be cremated. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to the East Branch YMCA in Wichita, Kansas in care of Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home.

Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home