Marvin Maurice Somers

Marvin Maurice Somers passed away on April 23, 2014. Although he had lived for the past two months in Chandler, Arizona, he was a long-time resident of Wichita, Kansas. Born on June 28, 1923 in Texhoma, Texas, Marvin, his siblings and their parents, Roy Walter Somers and Jesse Fern Morris Somers, moved to a farm in Conway Springs, Kansas when Marvin was a young child. He earned a degree in medicine from the University of Kansas and was a medical doctor in the United States Navy on a ship that made a couple of crossings of the Pacific Ocean. He married Barbara Heinsohn in 1946; they were married for 65 years. They joined University United Methodist Church in Wichita in 1952 and were active members of the church for most of their adult lives. Marvin worked at St. Francis Hospital for many years and in time became head of the radiology department. Along with his wife, Marvin served his church and his community in many ways. He was so helpful to his wife in her work for the church’s Women’s Society that they gave him a pin as an honorary member. For over 40 years, Marvin and Barbara opened their home to foster children, placed through the Kansas Children’s Service League, to unwed pregnant girls and later to foreign exchange students. For a number of years they welcomed two students at a time to their home. They retained ties with many of these young people; their loving care will be sorely missed. Marvin is survived by a daughter, Anne Fojtasek of Kapaau, HI; a son, Stanley Somers and his wife Sadie of Oroville, WA; another son, Mark Somers and his wife Petra of Mesa AZ; eight grandchildren: Ananda Fojtasek, Sebrina Somers-Mann, Sarah Somers-Humphrey, Simon Somers, Suzanne Somers, Jeff Wolfe, Eric Wolfe and Mark Wolfe; and ten great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife; a daughter Barbara Wolfe and a son Robert Somers; a sister, Orris King; and a brother, Warren Somers. Funeral services will be held at University United Methodist Church on May 7 at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Conway Springs cemetery.