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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Rev. Walter Elmer Racker
Walter Elmer
Racker
June 10, 1920 – June 19, 2009
Rev. Walter Elmer Racker's Obituary
Rev. Walter Elmer "Wally" Racker, 89, of Winfield, Kansas, died Friday morning, June 19, 2009, at Cumbernauld Village in Winfield.
He was born June 10, 1920, in Wallingford, Connecticut, to Walter Emil and Olive Melvina (Curtiss) Racker. He grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut. He spent eight years in the US Army Air Corps during WWII, and served in the Pacific Theatre. After returning stateside, he was stationed at Strother Field, and attended Southwestern College, in Winfield, where he met Bethel Warren, the daughter of Clarence Earl Henry and Ruby Ellen Johnston Warren. They were married October 13, 1944, in Attica, Kansas. To this marriage were born a daughter, Bethel Ellen Pierce, and three sons, Walter E. Racker IV, Wayne E. Racker, and Warren E. Racker.
Wally received a BA degree from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, in 1952, and a BD from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1965. For 55 years he served parishes in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Oklahoma. He also served as a chaplain to hospitals and prisons in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In 1985, Wally and Beth retired to their ranch in rural Chautauqua County, Kansas, while ministering to the Belknap community. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with family and friends at their Belknap home in October 1994.
Retirement gave Wally the time to pursue his life-long passion for flying, and both he and Beth earned their pilot's licenses with instrument rating, while rebuilding two antique airplanes. He was a long-time member of the VFW, AF&AM Masonic Order, and the Civil Air Patrol, where he served as chaplain.
He is survived by his sister Olive Hubbard and her husband Robert, of Cottonwood, Arizona; his brother Alfred, of Ham Lake, Minnesota; his son Walter E. Racker IV and his wife Adele, of Tecumseh, Kansas; his grandsons, Andrew Roger Racker of Temple Terrace, Florida; Matthew Paul Pierce and his wife Regina Marie, of Olathe, Kansas; Mark Timothy Pierce, of Leavenworth, Kansas; his granddaughters, Amelia Kim Harding, of Collinsville, Oklahoma; Hilary Justine Rieck and her husband, Scott, of Arcadia, Kansas; Cynthia Karen Grass and her husband Andrew Joseph, of St. Louis, Missouri; Gabrielle Marie Squires and her husband, Scott, of Pittsburg, Kansas; his daughter-in-law, Nina Kay Racker, of Winfield; his step-granddaughters, Keri Lynn and Shelly Renee Whitmore of Winfield, great-grandchildren, Jordan Kelsi Harding, Gary Wayne Harding, Sophia Danielle Harding, Eleanor Adele Rieck, Storm Stephen Rieck, Alexander Joseph Grass, Lydia Jane Pierce, Aidan Christopher Pierce, Alexander Dean Squires, Quinn Emrys Squires, and Wren Marie Squires; and step-great-grandchildren, Kristian Lee Yingling, Logan Allen Yingling, Audrey Nicole Yingling, and Alexa Ariel Flora. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Evalena Sayblack Dearborn and Emily Indietta Wheeler, his brother William Frederick Racker, his daughter, Bethellen Pierce, and his sons, Wayne E. Racker and Warren E. Racker.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the Belknap Church. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM, at Attica cemetery in Attica, Kansas.
A Memorial has been established in Wally's name for the Belknap Church. Contributions may be made through Miles Funeral Service in Winfield.
He was born June 10, 1920, in Wallingford, Connecticut, to Walter Emil and Olive Melvina (Curtiss) Racker. He grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut. He spent eight years in the US Army Air Corps during WWII, and served in the Pacific Theatre. After returning stateside, he was stationed at Strother Field, and attended Southwestern College, in Winfield, where he met Bethel Warren, the daughter of Clarence Earl Henry and Ruby Ellen Johnston Warren. They were married October 13, 1944, in Attica, Kansas. To this marriage were born a daughter, Bethel Ellen Pierce, and three sons, Walter E. Racker IV, Wayne E. Racker, and Warren E. Racker.
Wally received a BA degree from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, in 1952, and a BD from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1965. For 55 years he served parishes in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Oklahoma. He also served as a chaplain to hospitals and prisons in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In 1985, Wally and Beth retired to their ranch in rural Chautauqua County, Kansas, while ministering to the Belknap community. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with family and friends at their Belknap home in October 1994.
Retirement gave Wally the time to pursue his life-long passion for flying, and both he and Beth earned their pilot's licenses with instrument rating, while rebuilding two antique airplanes. He was a long-time member of the VFW, AF&AM Masonic Order, and the Civil Air Patrol, where he served as chaplain.
He is survived by his sister Olive Hubbard and her husband Robert, of Cottonwood, Arizona; his brother Alfred, of Ham Lake, Minnesota; his son Walter E. Racker IV and his wife Adele, of Tecumseh, Kansas; his grandsons, Andrew Roger Racker of Temple Terrace, Florida; Matthew Paul Pierce and his wife Regina Marie, of Olathe, Kansas; Mark Timothy Pierce, of Leavenworth, Kansas; his granddaughters, Amelia Kim Harding, of Collinsville, Oklahoma; Hilary Justine Rieck and her husband, Scott, of Arcadia, Kansas; Cynthia Karen Grass and her husband Andrew Joseph, of St. Louis, Missouri; Gabrielle Marie Squires and her husband, Scott, of Pittsburg, Kansas; his daughter-in-law, Nina Kay Racker, of Winfield; his step-granddaughters, Keri Lynn and Shelly Renee Whitmore of Winfield, great-grandchildren, Jordan Kelsi Harding, Gary Wayne Harding, Sophia Danielle Harding, Eleanor Adele Rieck, Storm Stephen Rieck, Alexander Joseph Grass, Lydia Jane Pierce, Aidan Christopher Pierce, Alexander Dean Squires, Quinn Emrys Squires, and Wren Marie Squires; and step-great-grandchildren, Kristian Lee Yingling, Logan Allen Yingling, Audrey Nicole Yingling, and Alexa Ariel Flora. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Evalena Sayblack Dearborn and Emily Indietta Wheeler, his brother William Frederick Racker, his daughter, Bethellen Pierce, and his sons, Wayne E. Racker and Warren E. Racker.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the Belknap Church. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM, at Attica cemetery in Attica, Kansas.
A Memorial has been established in Wally's name for the Belknap Church. Contributions may be made through Miles Funeral Service in Winfield.
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