Obituary for Gary De Buhr
Gary Arlyss DeBuhr, 89, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away December 22, 2022. Gary was born November 24, 1933, the eldest son of Arlyss and Nina (Cottle) DeBuhr. He married Peggy Moore in 1958 and though the relationship wasn’t permanent, they had four children together and remained friends until her passing in 2020.
Gary was raised on his parent’s farm in South Haven, Kansas, attending grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse and graduating from South Haven High School. He served in the U.S. Army as a Radar Crew Chief and the Army Reserves Military Police. Gary attended his first two years of college at Wichita University (today WSU), graduating from the Akron Art Institute School of Design with a BFA in Industrial Design. He was formerly employed by Boeing, Learjet, Product Development Group and Cessna before starting his own business, DeBuhr Associates. During his career, he worked on projects such as the Apollo/Saturn V Booster program, the design and installation of the first Learjet interior, and the early design concept for the Lear Star, which was later incorporated into the Canadair Challenger.
Gary held a private pilot’s license and had a keen interest in local, world and family history, and illustrating aircraft. Never having a formal lesson, he taught himself to play the guitar, banjo, steel guitar, and mandolin. Growing up on farm and being a landowner, the yearly wheat harvest was a meaningful time for him, and he always made time to spend a few days participating. Gary was a lifelong Republican and was always up for a good debate. His greatest pleasure was spending time with his family, children, grandchildren, and his cats. He took the family on many memorable vacations across the country, his favorite destination being the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. After retirement, he began volunteering at the Kansas Aviation Museum, where he enjoyed hosting tours, researching aviation history, and making many new friends.
Gary will be remembered as an upstanding man and father, dedicated to family and friends and always being available to help without hesitation. He was a man of faith and can be counted among the most honest, trustworthy, and loyal of men. He is survived by son, Bryan and daughters Julie, Sheri, and Kelli. Grandchildren, Erik Dorsey, Taryn (Brent) Schademan, Devin, Bryson, and Ryan DeBuhr, great- grandchildren, Evan Dorsey and Vivian, Brielle, and Cole Schademan, one brother, Loren (Donna) DeBuhr. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Karlin.
Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on December 29, 2022, at the Smith Family Mortuaries, located at 1415 North Rock Rd, Derby Kansas, 67037. There will be no graveside services.
In lieu of flowers, Gary would like donations to be made to the Kansas Aviation Museum, 3350 South George Washington Blvd, Wichita, Kansas 67210 or https://kansasaviationmuseum.org/support/donate
Gary was raised on his parent’s farm in South Haven, Kansas, attending grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse and graduating from South Haven High School. He served in the U.S. Army as a Radar Crew Chief and the Army Reserves Military Police. Gary attended his first two years of college at Wichita University (today WSU), graduating from the Akron Art Institute School of Design with a BFA in Industrial Design. He was formerly employed by Boeing, Learjet, Product Development Group and Cessna before starting his own business, DeBuhr Associates. During his career, he worked on projects such as the Apollo/Saturn V Booster program, the design and installation of the first Learjet interior, and the early design concept for the Lear Star, which was later incorporated into the Canadair Challenger.
Gary held a private pilot’s license and had a keen interest in local, world and family history, and illustrating aircraft. Never having a formal lesson, he taught himself to play the guitar, banjo, steel guitar, and mandolin. Growing up on farm and being a landowner, the yearly wheat harvest was a meaningful time for him, and he always made time to spend a few days participating. Gary was a lifelong Republican and was always up for a good debate. His greatest pleasure was spending time with his family, children, grandchildren, and his cats. He took the family on many memorable vacations across the country, his favorite destination being the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. After retirement, he began volunteering at the Kansas Aviation Museum, where he enjoyed hosting tours, researching aviation history, and making many new friends.
Gary will be remembered as an upstanding man and father, dedicated to family and friends and always being available to help without hesitation. He was a man of faith and can be counted among the most honest, trustworthy, and loyal of men. He is survived by son, Bryan and daughters Julie, Sheri, and Kelli. Grandchildren, Erik Dorsey, Taryn (Brent) Schademan, Devin, Bryson, and Ryan DeBuhr, great- grandchildren, Evan Dorsey and Vivian, Brielle, and Cole Schademan, one brother, Loren (Donna) DeBuhr. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Karlin.
Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on December 29, 2022, at the Smith Family Mortuaries, located at 1415 North Rock Rd, Derby Kansas, 67037. There will be no graveside services.
In lieu of flowers, Gary would like donations to be made to the Kansas Aviation Museum, 3350 South George Washington Blvd, Wichita, Kansas 67210 or https://kansasaviationmuseum.org/support/donate