Neil H. Higginbotham

Mr. Higginbotham died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at his home.

He was born Oct. 15, 1938, in Independence, Mo., the son of Kenneth B. and Mildred O. (Laubach) Higginbotham. He attended grade school in Shreveport, La., and in Scranton, Kan. He attended Highland Park Junior High and graduated from Topeka High School in 1956. He lived for nearly nine years in Winterset, Iowa, then moved to Lawrence in 1986.

Mr. Higginbotham served in the U.S. Navy from June 1956 to September 1959 aboard the USS Kearsarge and USS Oriskany. He was an audio man and announcer for WIBW TV from 1963 to 1970 and an electronic engineer for Philco Ford, Dymo and Itek from 1970 to 1986. He also worked for Jostens/American Yearbook, Walsworth Publishing in Marceline, Mo., and as an electronics engineer for the Kansas Turnpike Authority from September 1986 until he retired Dec. 22, 2000. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

He married Carol R. Fouts on March 5, 1961, in Topeka. She survives, of the home.

Other survivors include three sons, Kenneth Mark, Fort Sill, Okla., David Neil, Bend, Ore., and Stephen James, Lawrence; a sister, Oneita L. Higginbotham, Braganca, Brazil; and six grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.

The family suggests memorials to the church or Hospice Care in Douglas County, sent in care of the mortuary.

E-mail condolences may be sent to larry@warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Higginbotham.