Charles Lester Snouffer

Charles Lester Snouffer of Louisburg, Kan., passed away Friday, July 6, at North Point Skilled Nursing Care in Paola, Kan., at the age of 97.

He was born May 12, 1915, to Verlin V. and Mary Alice Phillips Snouffer, on the family farm near Somerset, Kan., becoming the third generation of Snouffers to live there. Two of his great-grandchildren live there with their parents today.

He graduated from Paola High School in 1934, where he’d been a guard on the football team. After high school, he moved to Lind, to work for Phillips Farms.

In September 1942, he joined the United States Army, serving as a sergeant in the 219th Artillery 35th Division.

After returning home, he rekindled his friendship with Etta Irene Gillogly, a teacher at Moore School in Louisburg. On Feb. 9, 1946—Etta’s birthday—they married in Ft. Scott, Kan., and kept it a secret until school let out in April, so that Etta could finish out the year. Together, they returned to Lind and Phillips Farms, where he worked as a wheat rancher until he retired in 1984. In 1985, they moved back to Louisburg.

He was proud to be involved with his community. He played a role in the first Lind Rodeo, he was a 32nd degree master Mason and was also a member of the Shriners and Eastern Star. He loved being outside, whether he was fishing, hunting, farming or spending time with family. His wisdom, kindness and playful sense of humor will be missed by everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Etta; son, Verlin (Shelley) Snouffer of Paola, Kan.; daughters, Mary Irene Hanson of Redmond, Wash., Sandra Kay (Robert) Leonetti of Spokane, Wash., and Alice Marie (David) Hopkins of Endicott, Wash.; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sisters, Mildred Hertha of Leawood, Kan., Mary Beth Kaiser of Paola, Kan., Esther (John) Middlemass of Leawood, Kan., and Eleanor Grace (Warren) Hannon of Olathe, Kan.

Visitation is set to be on Saturday, July 21 from 10-11 a.m. at the Penwell-Gabel – Paola Chapel in Paola, Kan. Memorial Services are to follow at 11 a.m. at the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations in his memory made to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children or to the Salvation Army.