Mark Forest Bivins Jr.

Mark Forest Bivins Jr, 89, passed away on Monday, February 25, 2008, at North Kansas City, MO. He was born May 4, 1918 in LaCrosse, KS, to Mark and Katherine Bivins where his father was teaching school. In his youth he lived in New Albany, KS, a small town with lots of beautiful sky and fresh air, where 5 generations of his family have lived. His father struggled to support the family during the depression teaching school, selling real estate, traveling sales of an auto "shimmy-wedge" he invented; he also served in local politics. His mother served as mayor of New Albany in one of the first petty-coat (all woman) governments in the nation. The family lived in a large two-story, five bedroom house with 2 sons and 2 daughters and periodic extended family members such as Katherine"s father William Roberts. In Mark"s youth he hunted, pitched bales of hay into a wagon all day for $1.00, and attended the Methodist church and played his violin at the Baptist church. Mark attended nearby Fredonia High School, pitched baseball (left-handed) for the team, and studied radio, graduating in 1936. After high school Mark attended Chanute Junior College. Afterward he went to Montana to work for his Uncle Isaac on his large wheat farm. On the way he was robbed of his money and had to ride-the rails with the hobos to get there. During WWII Mark enlisted in the Air Force and was privileged to continue his study of radio. He, being the fastest code operator in his group, was chosen to be radio instructor at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Ks for bomber crews going over seas. He was also stationed at several other Air Force bases around the country and logged several thousand hours in B-17 and B-41 bombers. After the war Mark received additional training at the Kansas City Radio and Television Institute, then was accepted for employment by the Federal Aviation Agency. In 1950 Mark married his sweetheart of several years, Adelle Langel, in Columbia, MO at Calvary Episcopal Church. In 1951 a son, Alan Brian, was born. Adelle died in 1952 due to breast cancer. Mark continued to work for the FAA at Lambert Field Airbase in St Louis, then at Fairfax Airport in Kansas City, KS, and finally for many years at Kansas City, Missouri"s Municipal Airport (now Downtown Airport). Mark met his second treasured wife Glenda at a wonderful orchestral dance on the Admiral pleasure boat in St Louis. They were married from 1962 till 1994 when Glenda passed away. Mark retired from the FAA with 34 years government service. Mark loved to dance and continued to do so all his life, attending dances with "wonderful friends", "fantastic" musicians, and "beautiful music", in latter years at the American Legion, Moose Lodge, churches and senior activities. Mark was a Mason for 66 years, a past member of the Shrine, and member of the American Legion. Mark was a faithful and devoted husband and father who was very hard working in caring for his family and home. He was outgoing and friendly to everyone he met, everywhere he went. Two of Mark"s favorite adages, which he lived in his life, were: "I never met a person I didn"t like" (Will Rogers); and "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" from Jesus" sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:8. Survivors include a son, Alan Bivins, and daughter-in-law Irene, of Leawood, KS; a sister, Grace Bewley of Wichita, KS; and nine nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Thursday, February 28, 5-7pm and Friday morning, February 29, with funeral services on Friday at 2pm, at Timmons Funeral Home with Rev. Cheryl Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Weakley Cemetery near New Albany, Kansas, with Masonic and Military honors. A memorial has been established in his name with the New Albany United Methodist Church and may be sent to the funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.timmonsfuneralhome.com.