Robert “Bob” E. Varvel, 76, of Colony died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at his home.
He was born May 6, 1933, in rural Le Roy, the son of Glen Wilson and Vera Lily (Johnson) Varvel. He grew up in the Le Roy area, graduating from Le Roy High School.
He was married to Marcella Houston in 1953. They later divorced.
He was a farmer in the Le Roy area most of his life. He also worked at various jobs off the farm.
In his younger years he worked at the National Alfalfa Mill in Le Roy. Following his retirement from farming he worked in the Iola area for Johnson Construction. He enjoyed woodworking and crafts. This hobby led him to open “Bob’s Shop” in Colony, where he made crafts and restored furniture for the last 15 years.
He moved to Colony in 2006. He attended Colony United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his companion, Jane Ward, of the home; a son, DeWayne and his wife, Kaye, Owensboro, Ky.; two daughters, Roberta Johnson and husband, Charlie, Iola, and Nina Grant and her husband, Kenneth, Le Roy; a sister, Mary Volland, Madison; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A brother-in-law, Richard Volland, died earlier.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Colony. Burial will follow in Logue Cemetery in Le Roy. He will lie in state after 1 p.m. Friday with the family present to greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials to St. Francis House, Topeka, may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences for the family may be left at feuerbornfuneral.com.
‘Bob’ Varvel
