Donald Lee Webber

Donald Lee Webber, patriarch of five generations, died on November 8, 2023, at age 96 years, 9 months and 11 days. He was born January 28, 1927, in Independence, Kansas to Sadie Elizabeth (Hambleton) Webber and John Lloyd Webber. He was raised on farms in Montgomery County and attended schools in Independence and Lecompton, Kansas. He enlisted in the Naval Air Corps in 1945 and served to the end of World War II with overseas duty in the Pacific Theater. He married the love of his life, Gloria Jean Andres, on August 20, 1948, in Independence.

Don was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1951, working as an installer, deskman and supervisor in Pittsburg, Hutchinson, Newton and El Dorado. He retired in 1985 with 34 years of service. After retirement, Don purchased Sand Prairie Farm near Halstead where he and son, Alan, raised and trained Arabian horses. He enjoyed the farm and the challenges of barn and farm maintenance. He was a gardener and loved being outdoors. Raising beautiful vegetables and flowers was a special joy.

Don and Gloria moved off the farm to Terrace Drive in Newton in 1994. They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Yearly family vacations were his way of introducing his family to the wonders of nature and the many awesome things to be seen in the United States. Don was always ready to travel or go fishing and he enjoyed refinishing furniture. In his later years, he enjoyed watching and identifying the many birds who visited his backyard bird feeder.

Don loved the First United Church of Christ and had been a member since 1972. He enjoyed singing in the choir, leading the adult Sunday School class and serving on the KS-OK conference board and the Building & Grounds Committee, where he put his skill for yard work and odd jobs to good use. His loss of hearing forced him to give up group meetings.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, and son, Donald Gale Webber, of Wichita. Survivors include his daughters, Carol (Michael) Hastings Angulo of rural Newton, and Sandra (Bob) McVey of Edgerton; son, Alan (Leigh) Webber of Phoenix; Caregiver/Granddaughter, Sarah Hastings, of the home. He is also survived by brothers-in-law John (Nancy) Andres of Lemont, Illinois, and David (Julia) Andres of Tucson.  Donald is survived by nine grandchildren: Jeffrey (Paulyna) Webber, Melanie (David) Cradduck, David (Sonia) Hastings, Matthew (Susan) Hastings, Steven (Shannon) Hastings, Daniel Hastings, Sarah Hastings, Jennifer (Dustin) Toman and Robert (Mallory) McVey; as well as great and great-great grandchildren.

Memorial Service will be at Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Peabody, on November 18 at 10 a.m. followed by Celebration of Life at Dyck Arboretum, 177 W. Hickory, Hesston at 11:15 a.m.

Memorials in Don’s memory may be made to the Kansas Society for Children with Challenges, 100 N. Main Street, Suite 1002, Wichita, Kansas 67202 or sent in care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main, Newton, Kansas 67114. Don’s history with this organization goes back ninety years to when they provided his first hip surgery as a child.