Sterling Short

Sterling Short, 89, a longtime resident of rural Fredonia, Kansas, died early Saturday morning, July 31, 2010 at Beverly Health and Rehab in Fredonia. He was born March 6, 1921 in Gilford, Kansas, the son of Herschel and Pearl Evelyn(Orendorff) Short. Sterling was a 1939 graduate of Benedict High School and attended Pittsburg State University. He served in the United States Navy as a First Class Petty Officer August 25, 1942 to June 29, 1945. During his Navy service, he served on the SC669 wooden sub-chaser, which was the first vessel to utilize radar and the first wooden sub-chaser to sink a Japanese submarine. During his four campaigns in active duty, Sterling was injured after 14 months of being deployed. After being transported back to the states, he completed he V12 Program while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Kansas; however war injuries prevented his commission as an officer On November 4, 1946 in Napoleon, Ohio, he married the love of his life, Evelyn Jones. She survives at their home in Fredonia Throughout the years, Sterling was employed as a pipefitter welder and taught school at Dunn School, near Altoona. In 1952, he and his wife, Evelyn, moved to their family farm where he was known as a Grade A Dairy Farmer. Sterling was a member of Union #441 Wichita Pipefitters and the Disabled American Veterans Association. Survivors, in addition to his wife Evelyn, include: 4 Children: Wayne Short and his wife Mary Short of Wichita, Kansas Bruce Short, MD and his wife Mary Jane Short, MD of Olathe, Kansas Debra Mitchell and her husband Steven Mitchell, DDS of Olathe, Kansas Brad Short and his wife Barbara Short of Richmond, Kansas 3 Sisters: Sunshine Erickson of Chanute, Kansas Merima Carver of Wichita, Kansas Beebee Calloway of Kansas City, Missouri 10 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Temperance Campbell and Queenbee Cook. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at the High Prairie Cemetery with Mike Myers officiating and military honors conducted by the U.S. Navy. Friends may call at Timmons Funeral Home on Tuesday, 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. Memorials have been established in Sterling"s name with the Disabled American Veterans or the AseraCare Hospice and may be left at the funeral home. Words of condolence for the family may be left on this website. Timmons Funeral Home, PO Box 168, Fredonia, KS, 66736, is in charge of the arrangements.