RONALD L. “RONNIE” CLAPHAN
Ronald L. “Ronnie” Claphan, age 90, longtime resident of Dundee, Kansas, died Friday afternoon, March 22, 2013, at Great Bend Regional Hospital, Great Bend, Kansas. Mr. Claphan was born on November 26, 1922 in Van Buren, Arkansas, the son of Gerald Ewing and Irene Evidine (Davidson) Claphan. He was a 1942 graduate of Nashville High School, Nashville,Kansas. He owned a mechanic shop in Newton, Kansas. He later moved to Dundee and worked at Dee Dove Buick/Olds/Cadillac in Great Bend for approximately ten years. He then opened and operated Triangle Auto/Truck Repair in Dundee, Kansas, for over 40 years until his retirement in 1996. He also co-owned the Dundee Gift Shop with his brother for many years at the same time he operated Triangle Auto/Truck Repair. With his CB handle of “Sparky Sparkplug”, he was a member of the Lucky 7 CB Club. He loved KU and Wichita Shocker sports, and ran the wrecker at the racetrack. Known as the unofficial “Mayor of Dundee”, and with his “4-H roots”, he was a carpenter, farmer, and raised cattle, hogs, and rabbits.
On October 12, 1960, he married Fern Elizabeth Hunt in McPherson, Kansas. She preceded him in death February 12, 2000. On October 5, 2006, he married Ruth Matthews inGreat Bend, Kansas.
Survivors include: his wife, Ruth Claphan, Dundee, Kansas; four sons, Darrell and his wife, Regina Claphan, Wichita, Kansas, Charles Claphan, Wichita, Kansas, Carl Claphan, Texarkana, Texas, and Tom Claphan, Great Bend, Kansas; two daughters, Ronalda and her husband, Roger Chastain, Hillsboro, Kansas, and Catherine and her husband, Lee McVey, Great Bend, Kansas; 17 grandchildren; 50 great grandchildren; and one brother, Junior Claphan. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Fern; five infant sons; one sister, Dorothy Nolan; and one brother, Garland Claphan .
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at Grace CommunityChurch, 210 McKinley, Great Bend, Kansas with Pastor Jay Beuoy and Pastor Don Paden officiating. Interment will be in the Dundee Valley Cemetery near Dundee, Kansas. Visitation will be Monday, March 25, 2013, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Charter Funerals, Great Bend,Kansas. Church visitation will be Tuesday, March 26, 2013, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at GraceCommunity Church Church, Great Bend, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the Ronald L. Claphan Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be left and a full obituary notice may be viewed at https://www.charterfunerals.
Arrangements By
CHARTER FUNERALS
2115 Washington St.
Great Bend, KS 67530