Charles William “Chuck” Medcalf, 88, of Wichita, formerly of the Iola area, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Chuck was born July 3, 1923, at Oil Hill, Kan., the son of Jacob D. “Jack” and Madeline (Shockey) Medcalf. The family moved to a farm in the Geneva area in 1934. He graduated from Iola High School in 1942 and Kansas State University in 1949, after serving with the U.S. Navy during WWII as a fighter pilot.
On Jan. 23, 1949, he married Mary Berdean Storey in Topeka.
His lifetime achievements consisted of being known as an aviator, businessman, and rancher. He extended his flying experiences by joining the U.S. Naval Reserve. As a businessman, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service in Paola, owned a farm equipment dealership in Trenton, Mo., and then became involved in the life insurance industry as an agent and then in the formation of several companies in Illinois.
In 1976, he returned to Kansas and purchased land for development of a working cattle ranch. Charles retired in 1996 and he and Mary lived in Fort Scott, Iola, and Great Bend before moving to Wichita in 2009.
He was a life member of VFW Post 1165 in Fort Scott.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Medcalf of the home; a son, Robert Medcalf, Girard; a daughter, Nancy Wilkens and her husband, Kent, Clearwater; a sister, Genevieve Keller, Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren, Taylor Wilkens, Charley Wilkens, Amanda Womack, Katie Pucket, Emily Medcalf and Joshua Medcalf; two great-grandsons.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Scott and William Medcalf, and a brother, Tom Medcalf.
Funeral services were this afternoon at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola. Burial was in Highland Cemetery, Iola. A memorial has been established with the Salvation Army. Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
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