Alton R. "Sonny" Sizemore

Sonny was born August 21, 1927, in New Hope, West Virginia, but spent much of his years growing up in the small community of Crystal, West Virginia, where his father William worked in the coal industry, and his mother, Elsie, nee Smith, was the post mistress. He was nicknamed Sonny as a very young boy and it stuck throughout his life.

Sonny served stateside in the US Army during World War II and came to Kansas City in 1950. There he met Marcella Kupka of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and they were married in November of 1951. This month they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary. By 1963, they had 7 children, all girls. You can imagine his fortitude over the years!

Sonny's career was in outdoor advertising, which he enjoyed and took great pride in. He liked watching and playing golf, and was a very active do-it-yourselfer who did amazing work. He liked nothing better than to have a project going. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed history. He loved learning new tidbits involving a wide variety of subjects and could converse easily.

He had a passion for classical music and listened to it for a spell each day. Being over at the house while he had it on was a nice bit of time to share with him.

He was a jogger and bike rider for many years. He also loved walking his Brookside neighborhood in his younger days, after moving there in the early 70s, getting the lay of the land, meeting neighbors and striking up life-long friendships. He never met a stranger.

As he aged into using a walker, he still loved to get out and about, keeping up with the friends he'd made throughout the years while still making new ones. As one neighbor mentioned, making such friendships was something he was born to do. Sonny was a funny guy. Many who knew him loved his sense of humor which was often evident through hilarious off-the-cuff remarks.

Sonny was a loving and giving husband and father, a good provider, and was active in his children's lives. He taught them they could achieve their life goals and be whatever they strove to be. He also was involved in his grand children's lives attending sporting and other events and there was always a game of Horse in the driveway, or a rousing game of cards around the table after holiday and family dinners.

We all count ourselves lucky to have had Sonny in our lives as long as we did.

Sonny is preceded in death by his parents William and Elsie; brothers William Peyton, Norman Wayne and Donald Dae, grandson Preston Charles Smith, nephew Norman Scott Sizemore and sons-in-law James Latenser and Richard Long.

Services will be held at Visitation Parish. Visitation will be 9:00 am Friday Nov. 5, the Rosary will be at 9:45 a.m. and the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery will follow Mass.

Sonny is survived by his wife Marcella; and children Victoria Long, Robin Sizemore, Beth Siebert,(Jeff) Christine DeLaRosa, (Frank) Melinda Day, (Tim) Mona Latenser, and Nicole Smith, (Scott); and sisters-in-law Ramona Sizemore and Rhumelle Potter.

He is also survived by 15 grandchildren; Matthew Long, Fred DeLaRosa, Casey DeLaRosa, Amy Seibert, Bobby Seibert, Cindy Seibert, Mackenzie Day, Abby Day, Sam Sizemore-Dieterich, Katie Latenser, Drew Latenser, Jaime Myers, Meredith Latenser, Lacey Smith and Aubree Smith; 10 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.