Clarence Edward "Ed" Herington

Clarence was born to Naomi and James Herington on a Sunday weighing 3 pounds. The odds were against him from the beginning. He was a fighter in every sense of the word. His father insisted he knew how to defend himself from an early age and that toughness served him well throughout his life. He was strong and tough when he was on his own from the age of 13. That strength carried him through his military service including receiving a bronze star for bravery under fire in the Korean war, raising a large family during his first marriage of 23 years, starting over on his own, then through his 33-year marriage to his second wife Martha and through the five long years after her death. His strength and stubbornness carried him through skin cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. His strength was an example to all of his children and his stubbornness was a trait they all inherited.

He was a hard-working man. He had many jobs throughout his life beginning at the age of 5 until he retired at the age of 55. He picked cotton, delivered handbills, built grain elevators, drilled oil wells, the list goes on and on. He worked for Western Electric then Ma Bell and finally retired from AT&T after 32 years. Even after retirement he stayed busy working on things around the house, always wanting to fix something.

His most important accomplishment was the love he gave the world. Each of his children felt as they were his favorite and the joy he expressed towards his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren was beautiful. He loved everyone, truly, he loved everyone.

He lost many in his long life including his parents and grandparents, his brother Harry and his sister Alice, two of his own children Jay and Jeff and his grandson Troy, his loving wife Martha Lou and many others.

He will be forever missed by those he left behind. He leaves his children, Mary Kay Vorhies (James), Kenneth Herington (Deana), Pamela Verbeck (David), and Dawn Herington. His grandchildren, Matt Lane, Robin Lane, David Paul Verbeck, Valerie Owens, Elizabeth Vorhies, James Vorhies, Thomas Vorhies, Ashley Henry, Courtny Thurston, Hannah Wilson, Halie Hackler, and Brae’Lynn Herington. He also leaves 16 great grandchildren and 3 great-great- grandchildren. He also leaves three generations of loved ones he was blessed with through his marriage to Martha.

Clarence’s message to the world – never hate, never worry and remember God is Love.

A visitation for Clarence will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM with services following at 10:00 AM, both at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS, 67209.