Clifford Wayne Koch

Clifford Wayne Koch, age 88, entered eternal life, Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Survivors: sons, Steven W. (Lisa) Koch, Kirkland, WA, James C. (Mary) Koch, Wichita, KS; daughter, Jeannine L. "Gigi"(Jerry) Koch-Prewitt, Derby; 7 grandsons; 7 granddaughters; 7 great-grandsons; 7 great- granddaughters; brother-in-law, Jerry Tighe, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 4 nephews; 2 nieces and their children. Preceded in death by his wife, Shirley L. (Steele) Koch; parents, Oscar C. and Hazel A. (Timmerman) Koch; brother, Lawrence E. Koch, brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Norma (Dole) Steele; sister-in-law, Coralie Tighe and 2 nephews. Clifford was born October 3, 1927 in Fredonia, KS; he attended Grade School and High School in Benedict, KS. In 1945 he graduated from Benedict, KS. While in High School he worked as a Projectionist in Theatres owned by Griffin Brothers and Hill Road Shows. He joined the Navy in 1945, served as an Electrician aboard aircraft carriers USS Independence and Badoeng Strait, and stayed in the Navy after WWII participating in Operation Crossroads, testing Atomic Bombs on Bikini Island. In 1947, he was discharged from the Navy; attended Technical School in Omaha Nebraska for 2 years majoring in Radio and Television. After graduation he worked at the Boeing Company as Crew Chief (Wichita), Hill Road Shows (KS/MO), KG&E Ripley Power Plant Operations (Wichita), Chief Engineer of Radio Station KWBB, World Wide Field Service Engineer for Collins Radio Co (Richardson, Texas), and Corporate Engineer for Great Empire Broadcasting (Wichita, owners of KFDI, T-95 in Wichita and other stations in the US) for 32 years. After retirement he worked for Cowskin Creek Broadcasting until his death. Cliff and Shirley married on June 24, 1951, 65 years ago. Cliff wanted to tell his friends and family, “Life has been a pleasure because of Friends and Family; I thank you all for being part of Shirley’s and my life”. Visitation: 2-8p.m. Friday, with family present from 4 to 8pm. funeral service 1 p.m. Saturday, both at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Road, Derby; graveside will follow in Resthaven Cemetery with military honors conducted by the United States Navy honor guard. The family requests contributions made in Clifford’s name to honor him as an Atomic Bomb Veteran.

Saturday, May 07, 2016

1:00 PM

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