Wallace Leroy Sturm

Wallace Leroy "Wally" Sturm, age 91, of Derby, retired cost manager with Beech Aircraft, passed away Monday, February 28, 2011 at Westview of Derby. Visitation 2-8 PM Sunday, March 6, 2011, with family receiving friends 5-7 PM, funeral service 10 AM Monday, March 7, 2011, both at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby. Graveside service 2 PM Monday, Highland Cemetery, Winfield. Wally was born in Floral, KS on Feb. 18, 1920. He graduated from Winfield High School then entered the University of Kansas on a music scholarship and played in the marching band, graduating with a degree in business. In 1940 he married Faye Jean Gish. Wally served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, on the minesweeper, Buoyant, after graduating from midshipman school at Notre Dame. They moved to Derby and were charter members of the First Christian Church of Derby. Preceded in death by parents Leroy and Julia Sturm; wife, Faye Jean Sturm; sister, Eleanor Coffey; and great-grandson Julian Aaron Sturm. Survived by: sons, Scott (Nancy) Sturm, Wichita, and Steven (Blossom) Sturm, Waialua, HI; cousin Zelda Sturm Smith, San Diego, CA; grandchildren, Shawn (Monica) Sturm, Kristan (Michael) Townley, Brian (Mindi) Sturm, Eric (Sandy) Sturm, Allen (Laura) Sturm, Sunshine (Damon) Williams; 12 great-grandchildren. Memorial donations to First Christian Church of Derby, Oahu Christian Outreach, P.O. Box 27, Derby KS, 67037, and The American Cancer Society. View tributes at smithfamilymortuaries.com. Smith Mortuary, Derby in charge of arrangements.