Elmer Levi Flora

Elmer Levi Flora, son of Brother Owen and Sister Ida (Wray) Flora was born December 27, 1915, near Baldwin City, Kansas. He suddenly departed this life on February 8, 2010, in his daughter's home near Westphalia, Kansas, at the age of 94 years, 1 month, 12 days. In August of 1930, he with his parents moved to Sawyer, Kansas. He answered the Master's call and was baptized by Brother Noah Garber in June of 1937 into the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, in the Sand Creek District, in which he remained faithful. On January 21, 1939, he was united in marriage to Sister Ruby Heck. To this union was born 5 children. Ruby passed away on September 21, 1981. He and his companion were called to the Deacon's Office in December of 1939, and in August of 1941 they were called to the Ministry, which he served in for over 70 years. On October 4, 1947, he was advanced to the second degree of the ministry and on March 12, 1955, he was ordained to the Eldership. On November 7, 1982, he married Mary Emma (Shidler) Knaus, and they lived at Sawyer, Kansas for 3 years. Then they moved to the Lower Twin District in Ohio in October of 1985. After her death on November 30, 2004, he had a sale and sold his property in Ohio and moved to live with his daughter Velma Riffey and husband Glen near Westphalia, Kansas. He was a farmer in Kansas for 65 years and lived in Ohio for 20 years. He is survived by his daughter, Velma Riffey and husband Glen; and sons, Wayne Flora and wife Rita; Darrel Flora and wife Barbara; Steve Flora and wife Teresa; 2 step sons, Glen Dale Knaus and wife Linda; Ronnie Knaus and wife Barbara; 2 sisters, Olive Kinzie and Gladys Barnhart (who passed away the next day after his death); brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Florence Heck, Owen Heck and wife Thelma, Frances Shuck and husband Darrel, and Raymond Heck and wife Wanda; 16 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; 6 great great grandchildren; 6 step grandchildren; 20 step great grandchildren, and many other nephews, nieces, family and friends. Elmer was preceded in death by both companions, one daughter, Freda Flory; one granddaughter Renea Flora; one great granddaughter Tamara Riffey; one son-in-law Delbert Flory; one brother Richard Flora; one sister-in-law Violet Flora; two brothers-in-law Russel Kinzie and Ivan Barnhart. We feel our loss is his eternal gain. Philippians 1v 21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 12, 2010, at the Old German Baptist Brethren Church at Westphalia, Kansas. Burial to follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery at Pratt, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Church on Thursday evening.