Maurice L. 'Mort' Wilmoth 1936-2009

Maurice L. 'Mort' Wilmoth, 73, of Parsons died at 3:50 a.m. Sunday, June 14, 2009, at his home. He had been in failing health.

He was born on April 4, 1936, at Neosho, Mo., to Jack Doyle and Bessie P. (Litton) Wilmoth The family moved to Parsons in 1943, and he attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1954.

He enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1954 and served as a radioman on the U.S.S. DeHaven DD-727 a destroyer stationed at Long Beach, California. He was honorably discharged in 1957. He later became a member of the DeHaven Sailors Association.

He married Donna Walker, his high school sweetheart, on Aug. 20, 1955, at Cherryvale. She survives of the home. They resided in Long Beach until 1960, when they returned to Parsons, where he and his brother, J.D. Wilmoth, purchased the Parsons Glass Co., which they owned and operated for 29 years. They sold the business and retired in 1989.

He enjoyed traveling with his family in their RV and camping locally. He was an avid quail hunter and enjoyed raising and keeping pointer bird dogs. He also enjoyed traveling in his RV with Donna as members of the Mirza mobile Noble Camping Club for many years. They also spent 10 winters traveling in the RV to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

He was a member of the Parsons Area Amateur Radio Club, obtaining the highest class license of extra class with the call sign of WSOR. He served as a repeater trustee and coordinated the move of the repeater equipment from the police tower to the water tower near 32nd and Main Street, where it remains today. He also served as a volunteer license examiner for the Federal Communication Commission. He taught a ham radio course at Labette Community College. He also was a member of the Parsons Masonic Lodge No. 177, A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite of the Valley in Fort Scott, the Mirza Shire in Pittsburg and the Elks Lodge No. 527 in Parsons. He volunteered for Meals on Wheels for 10 years.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where he served on various committees, including 4 1/2 years as a trustee and three years as chairman. He also was a member of the Growing Christians Sunday School class at Wesley.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Tony Wilmoth of Parsons and Terry Wilmoth and his wife, Cindy, of Asheville, N.C.; a granddaughter, Leaha Wilmoth of Asheville, N.C.; his sister, Carolyn Baldwin, and her husband, Allan, of Parsons; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Hugh Pace; and his brother, J.D. Wilmoth.

The family suggests memorials to Wesley United Methodist Church Building Maintenance Fund or the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospitals, and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home,

Carson-Wall Funeral Home
112 N. 26th St.
P.O. Box 942
Parsons, Kansas 67357.