Farrel M. Oard

Farrel M. Oard, Sr. 86, of Winfield, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

Memorial services will be held at 10 AM Wednesday, September 5 at Grace United Methodist Church; burial will follow at 1 PM at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Wellington. The family will greet friends from 5-7 PM Tuesday, September 4 at the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Winfield. Memorials may be made to Southwestern College and Grace United Methodist Church; contributions may be left in care of the funeral home.

Farrel was born on September 21, 1931 in Wellington, KS to loving parents Dewey and Hazel (Sparman) Oard. He was raised and educated in Wellington where he graduated from high school in 1949. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force in the Strategic Air Command during, and after the Korean War. He was stationed at various Air Force bases including Lowry AFB of Colorado, Upper Heyford AB in England, Parks AFB in California and Smoky Hill AFB in Kansas. After being honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant, Farrel returned to Winfield and attended Southwestern College, graduating in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Statistics. During college and after graduating from Southwestern, he worked at Boeing in Wichita for several years. In 1962 he began to work at the Winfield State Hospital where he worked for 35 years in Human Resources, retiring in 1997.

Farrel married Kerin (Forshee) in 1961, in Ponca City, OK and they made their home in Winfield. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, the joy of their lives. The Oard’s celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their friends and family in 2011. He was a long-time member of Grace United Methodist Church where he attended while going to Southwestern College. Grace remained his church home where he enjoyed singing in the choir for many years, taught Sunday school, and served on numerous committees. He served on the Cowley County Historical Society for a number of years. He was also inducted into the Southwestern College Heritage Society in 2001. The communities of Wellington, and Winfield were very important to him.

His family includes his wife of 57 years, Kerin of Winfield; his sons Farrel II of Houston, TX; Chris and wife Kim of Wichita, KS; and grandchildren Grace and Kenton, his pride and joy. As an only child he loved and enjoyed his extended family: sisters-in-law Kathleen Boothman, Sarah Faye Forshee, and Judy Valentine, whom became like his sisters, brothers-in-law Kenneth and Kenton Forshee whom were like his brothers, and his numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. They were all treasured through the years he spent with them. Preceding him in death are his parents, sister-in-law Sarah Faye, and brother-in-law Kenton.

Farrel was always caring and responsible to those who lived within his life. He lived his life with love, honor, and dignity making a definite difference in the lives of his friends and family. He will be well-remembered, respected and deeply missed.

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