Leona Christina Stroud

Stroud, Leona C., 91, passed away quietly at her home on Sept. 11, 2013. She was born January 26, 1922 northwest of Eureka, KS to Chris and Lena Evenson. Leona grew up in a small house on a 160 acre farm and it was a busy home as she was the youngest of 10 children. When she arrived her mom had a midwife as the doctor was away and she weighed 11 pounds. She attended Highland School all 8 grades, Eureka High School and Wichita Business College. She got a job at Beechcraft as a file clerk and was one of the first Beech Guardettes. Beech had a big layoff so she had to get a job quick. She got a job in 1945 as dispatcher for the Wichita Fire Dept. this gentleman started hanging around so the chief told him to become a fireman and she ended up marrying him – Francis Stroud in 1948. Man and wife couldn’t work in the same dept. so guess who had to look for another job, which was our 3 daughters – Linda, Brenda and Tammy. She worked at Ginger’s Boutique on West Kellogg until the tornado took it away. After that she looked after her 102 year old sister Lida who lived at the Masonic Home. She was active in her daughters’ school receiving a Life Membership in P.T.A. holding offices all those years. She was in the Ladies Firefighter Auxiliary, E.H.U., The 59ers, Las Madress Club, Hobby Club, Living Today Sunday School and Recycled Teenagers. She enjoyed teaching crafts at the extension office. She had many joyful trips and wonderful memories of all her friends and club activities. She enjoyed all the people that made her life so happy and fulfilling. She will be deeply missed and always remembered. Preceded in death by her husband Francis in 1984, all her brothers Otis, Leonard, Charley, Oscar and all her sisters Lida Moreland, Jennie Turner, Ora Stovall, Louise Hamby and Fern Wernli. She leaves behind to cherish her memories Linda (Miles) Blankenship of Wichita, Brenda (Dave) Robinson of Round Lake, IL, Tammy (Rick) Broadbent of Hooker, OK; grandchildren Jeremiah, Danielle, Audrey, Justin (Dawn), Eve, Jake, Nikki; great-grandson Tyler. Viewing is 12 to 8 pm Sunday at Resthaven Mortuary. Funeral service is 10:00 am Monday, Sept. 16 at Glenn Park Christian Church. Memorials may be given to Glenn Park Christian Church where she was a member for 50 years.