March 6, 2020

Wesley Wallace Worthington

11-20-1933 to 03-03-2020

Linn County News Published March 11, 2020

Wesley Wallace Worthington, 86, of Frontenac, Kan., formerly of Mound City, Kan., went home to be with the Lord on March 3, 2020.

Wesley was born on Nov. 20, 1933, to William Wesley and Munsey Pauline (Koontz) Worthington at Norfolk, Neb.

Wes attended Mound City schools most of his years; he then attended and graduated from Bob Jones Academy in Greenville, S.C. He attended Bob Jones University for two years.

He then moved to Detroit, Mich., and worked at Kresge Department Store. While working at Kresge’s he met his future wife, Shirley West.

In 1956, Wes was drafted into the United States Army. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, then was stationed at Fort Bragg Military Base in North Carolina and was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Wes and Shirley were married Feb. 27, 1957. They were married for 13 years and had four daughters: Jeanne, Sherrie, Suzanne and Janice.

He is survived by Jeanne Davidson (Kenny) of Frontenac; Suzanne Hawkins (Terry) of Carl Junction, Mo.; Sherrie Johnson, Pleasanton, Kan.; and Janice Myers of Mound City; two sisters, Toni Worthington of Mission, Kan., and Judy Neidermeyer (Phil) of Grants Pass, Ore.; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer (Josh) Marshall, Jackson Johnson, Joel Herron, Kyle (Denise) Herron, Megan (Zach) Compton, Eric Pew, Janelle Pew, Weston Widner, Shea Widner and Jacey Myers; six great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Following in his parents’ footsteps, Wes was a nursing home administrator. He was a former mayor of Mound City. He was involved in politics and was a nursing home lobbyist. Wes enjoyed hunting, fishing, photography, magic tricks for his kids then grandkids, snow skiing and travelling and even took flying lessons learning to fly small aircraft. He was a motorcycle and sports car enthusiast. Wes was of the Christian faith.

In 1979, Wes and Nina Nelson (Thompson) were married. Nina brought into the union Chris (Jennifer) Nelson and Tisha Nelson (Steve) Coleman. They later divorced.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Sharon Johnson; and a son-in-law, Stephen R. Johnson.

A private family service will take place at a later date in the Spring Grove Quaker Cemetery in Lane, Kan. Friends may send condolences to Brenner Mortuary, 114 East 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762.