Earl DeHaven

Earl Russell DeHaven was born April 3, 1926, in Wichita, KS to Charles Wesley and Verna Lucile (Monasmith) DeHaven. He passed away peacefully at home on February 4, 2022, in Wichita, KS at age 95. He was united in marriage on September 3, 1948, to Barbara Smith who preceded him in death.

Earl lived a full life. At age 17, he and his high school buddies decided to drop out of high school and defend this country by enlisting in the Army. All got in except Earl who had a heart condition, so he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and served his country during World War II by rescuing soldiers from remote locations. After the war was over, he re-enrolled at Wichita North High School where he met the love of his life, Barbara, and they were married for 70 years until her passing in 2018.

Earl is survived by his eight children: William DeHaven (Diana), Leslye Werner (Roy), Gary DeHaven (Nannette), Kathleen Eaton (Mark), Nancy Jackson (Leonard), Tom DeHaven (Patti), Paul DeHaven (Cheryl), and Joel DeHaven (Christine). He is survived by his grandchildren: Michael, Michelle, David, Chad, John, Wes, Valerie, Veronica, Aaron, Kyle, Jeffrey, Justin, Jessi, Elizabeth, Cambridge, Colin, Careth, Winston, Adam, Samantha, Stacey, Kirby, Madison, Zachary as well as 24 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents Charles Wesley DeHaven and Verna Lucile Monasmith, his brothers Howard, John, Dean, and his sisters Helen, Rachel, Ruth, Alice, Peggy, Patsy and Jeanne.

His earliest memory was riding in a horse drawn buggy with his grandfather John Albert DeHaven on old Lawrence Road (now Broadway). He was passionate about genealogy and loved sharing stories of his ancestors and how they helped fight in the Revolutionary War.

Earl was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He had a green thumb and a penchant for root beer floats.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Kechi Township Cemetery, 6422 N. Hillside Ave., Wichita, KS. In lieu of flowers his family is requesting donations to the Wichita Veterans Memorial Park (https://wichitaveteransmemorialpark.com/donations/wvmp/ ).