Allen Stokes

Allen R. Stokes, 86, of Iola, Kansas, passed away Sunday, November 25, 2012, at his home. He was born February 6, 1926 on a farm outside of Latham, Kansas to Bertlum L. and Lois M. (Ryan) Stokes. He was the third born in a large family of fourteen children, eleven boys and three girls. Allen grew up on several different farms in the Latham area, in 1934 his family moved to the Ryan Farm west of Latham. At the age of 18 he was drafted into World War II, on May 10, 1944. Doing his basic training at Camp Killen in Texas, then going to a camp in Mississippi, then on overseas serving at the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged on June 6, 1946, returning home to a farm outside of Moran, where his family had moved while he was in the service. Allen married Rose M. Turner in Colony on December 24, 1952, after which they made their home in Iola. After coming home from the service he worked on various farms in the area until going to work for Walton Foundry in the winter and Nelson Brothers in the summer, part time until getting on full time with Nelson Brothers, which later became Nelson Quarries, Inc. Allen worked 54 years for Nelson until retiring in 2001. After retiring he stayed with Nelson Quarries working part time for them until late 2008. Allen was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. His hobbies included stamp collecting which he started as a young man still at home with his parents, putting together jigsaw puzzles, gardening, fishing, bowling and tinkering with mechanics. Most of all he loved spending time with his family and grandchildren. His wife, Rose, survives of the home; as does a son Dale and his wife Helen of Kathleen, GA; three daughters, Debra and her husband Dennis Cooper of LaHarpe, Diana and her husband Craig Collins of Longview, WA, Denise and her husband Craig Mentzer of Neosho Falls; three brothers, John of Denver, CO, Bert, Jr. of Iola, Charles of Humboldt; one sister Linda Williams of LaCygne; 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren: Marc Sonka and wife Wendy of Iola: and his children Austin of Wichita and Geoffrey of Iola: Abigail Sonka, and her children Kaitlyn, Kristen, and Kallen Lieurance of Iola: James DePriest, and his children Zeth and Torrance of LaHarpe: Chelsey Cooper of Colony: Nathan Mentzer and his wife Heather of Stillwell; Miles Mentzer and his wife Jennifer of Park City; Amanda Godsey and her husband Neal, Manhattan, and Lissa Manbeck and her husband Corbin of Neosho Falls; Jason Collins of Tempe, AZ; Ryan and Zachary Collins of Longview, WA; Jason Reed of Sacramento, CA and Josh Reed of Seattle, WA. He was preceded in death by brothers, William, Harlan, Robert, Donald, James, Samuel and Darrell; two sisters, Mary Stokes and Virginia Andres; and a step great grandchild Drake Bunnel. VISITATION: 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:00 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. BURIAL: Highland Cemetery, Iola, KS MEMORIAL CHOICES: Allen County Hospice or Calvary United Methodist Church Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left on this website, www.iolafuneral.com .