Fred L. Padden

Funeral services for Fred L. Padden, 92, Winfield, will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence.
Mr. Padden died Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at his daughter’s home in Lawrence.
He was born Nov. 7, 1918, in Osage City, the son of Paul M. and Rho E. Loomis Padden. He was raised in Toronto and was a graduate of Toronto High School in 1935. He attended Kansas University and later graduated from Williams Institute of Mortuary Science in Kansas City.
He, with his father and brother, owned Padden Funeral Home in Frankfort from 1944 to 1973 and Padden Funeral Home in Holton from 1950 to 1964. In Holton, he also owned Padden Furniture Store and Federated Department Store for a number of years. He purchased Morris Funeral Home in Winfield in 1973. Morris Funeral Home and Swisher-Taylor Funeral Home merged in the late 1970s and became the Swisher-Taylor and Morris Funeral Home. He retired in 1986.
Mr. Padden was a member of First United Methodist Church in Winfield. In Holton, he served as the local Rotary International president, district Rotarian governor, Jackson County coroner and president of the local Red Cross. He was an accomplished tenor soloist. He was the lead soloist for the Holton community production of “Messiah” for many years and sang at many weddings and funerals.
Mr. Padden was known for his athletic accomplishments as a young man, including holding a KU Relays prep record in high jump and broad jump that was not broken for many years. At Toronto High School, he won many track meets and state championships. While at Kansas University, he was a member of the track team. In later years, he developed a passion for fly fishing and taught his grandchildren to fly fish.
He married Helen E. Wanklyn on Oct. 6, 1945, in Frankfort. She survives, of Winfield.
Other survivors include two daughters, Jeannie R. Heck, Lawrence, and Patsy White and husband Steve, Arkansas City; a son, Philip F. Padden and wife Gail, Lawrence; seven grandchildren, Brian and Brandon Heck, Kim Penny, Jeff White, Jennifer Grace, and Tyler and Kyle Padden; nine great-grandchildren, Raeleigh and Vaughn Heck, Kate, Andrew and Mackenzie White, Hunter and Morgan Grace, and Lauren and Gabe Heck.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the service time Friday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church in Winfield, sent in care of the mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
Online condolences may be sent at warrenmcelwain.com.