Louis Walker Fannell

World War II veteran Louis Walker Fannell passed away at home on July 17, 2015. His wife Hazel Fannell died on his 97th birthday exactly one week earlier. Hazel always said she snagged him right off the boat from China. They met in October of 1945 and married the following April. They were married 69 years.

The son of Thomas Anthony Fannell and Martha Cannon Walker, Louis was born on July 10th, 1918 in Burr Oak, Kansas. He was also preceded in death by his sister Betty A. Ranson of Lafayette, Louisiana.

Louis graduated from Guthrie high school. His father was the band director, and his mother taught piano. Louis and his younger sister became proficient in many instruments and had to fill in for others on a moment’s notice. He lost his father at the age of 14, and had to drive his mother, sister and father’s body to the final resting place in Colby, Kansas. In the midst of The Great Depression he worked his way through college over many years and graduated from Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

He served as a master sergeant for three and a half years in World War II and spent 28 months in China in the Army Air Force serving under General Chennault. He was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery during his service.

In his professional life, he worked for the Boy Scouts of America and Sohio Oil Company. At the relatively late age of 49, he left his job as a landman and started a State Farm Insurance Agency. He loved his work and really cared about his customers. He worked until the age of 75.

After retirement he enjoyed photography, learning computers and traveling. Most of all, he simply enjoyed spending time with his wife.

His true legacy is his kindness. He was the perfect husband and father. When he laughed, everyone laughed. You could not help yourself. He was mom’s best audience. An aura of goodness and warmth radiated from him. He was always happy, and to be around him, you felt that way yourself, your felt good about life.

He is also survived by his four children, Steven Fannell and his partner Patrice Wallace; Jane Nester and her husband James; John Fannell and his wife Sandy; Jeanie Fannell and her life partner Ruby Ivie; seven grandchildren, John Paul Stevens and his wife Toni; Gene House and his wife Sara; David House and his wife Tina; Daniel House, Taylor Fannell, Dr. Matthew Fannell and his wife Lindsay; and Lacy Fannell and her partner William Maxwell, as well as six great-grandchildren

Visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday – Wednesday, July 21 – 22, 8 am - 8 pm, and the family will host a visitation on Wednesday, 6 pm – 8 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Chapel on Thursday, July 23rd at 1 pm. A reception will follow the service at the same location followed by an Interment in Rose Hill Burial Park.