Wilbur Peter De Young

A memorial celebration for Wilbur Peter De Young, 97, Lawrence, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence. Graveside services will precede the celebration, at 10 a.m. Thursday at Corinth Cemetery, 3301 W. 83rd St., Prairie Village.
Mr. De Young died Monday, Nov. 7, 2011.
He was born Oct. 25, 1914, at Prairie View, Kan., the son of Nicholas and Ella De Young.
After high school he worked on his parents’ farm, clerked in a general merchandise store and in the local post office. In 1935 he enrolled at Fort Hays State University and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. For the next four years he taught commercial subjects and coached debate at Osborne High School in Osborne, Kan. During those years he earned a master’s degree in economics at the University of Oregon by attending summer sessions.
The next two years, during World War II, he served in the Budget and Fiscal Office of the Army Air Corps. In 1945 he returned to Osborne to serve two years as high school principal followed by two years as superintendent of schools.
In 1949 he left public school work to enroll at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He graduated from seminary in 1952 and May 20 of that year was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the Presbytery of Osborne.
His first ministry was as organizing pastor of the Westwood Presbyterian church of Wichita. After serving more than nine years there, he served on the staff of the Board of Christian Education of the General Assembly as field director for the Synod of Kansas. In 1966, he became pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Junction City, and remained there until his retirement in 1979. For the first 10 years after retirement he filled pulpits on a regular basis in the Kansas City area; he also served as moderator of the Presbytery of Wichita, Moderator of the Synod of Kansas, Member of the Support Agency of the General Assembly, Member of Synod’s Judicial Commission and Chairperson of Presbytery’s General Council.
Mr. De Young was also active in community organizations, including Rotary Clubs, USO and YMCA. He also served on mental health boards at both regional and state levels. In 1962 the Doctor of Divinity Degree was conferred upon him by Sterling College. In 1972 he received the Alumni Achievement Award of Fort Hays State University.
In August 1990 he and his wife moved from Prairie Village to the Presbyterian Manor of Lawrence.
Mr. De Young married Margaret Bartholomew, of Hays, in 1940. She preceded him in death April 28, 2001.
Survivors include a sister, Marjorie Elkinton, Richardson, Texas; three daughters, Janet Braman, Atlanta, Rita De Young, Plano, Texas, and Lorna De Young-Clark and husband Earl Clark, Chandler, Ariz.; four granddaughters, Robin Knuuttila, Renee Golder, Erin Goodman and Shea McIntire; and four great-grandchildren, Natalie and Nathan Knuuttila, and Grant and Claire Golder.
The family suggests memorials to “Good Samaritan Fund,” sent in care of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, 1429 Kasold St., Lawrence, KS 66049.
D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Overland Park Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.overlandparkchapel.com.