Obituary of Alpha Cody

Sedan - Alpha Cody, age 92, of Cedar Vale, Kansas passed away Saturday, November 15, 2008 at the Sedan City Hospital in Sedan, Kansas. Alpha was born July 19, 1916 at Grainola, Oklahoma to Alpha and Chole (Batdorf) Cody. In 1942, Alpha joined the United States Army Air Corp. He was a nose gunner on a B17 bomber in North Africa and Italy, flying over 40 missions. He was discharged in 1945. He married Anna Tousley on November 5, 1943 in Newkirk, Oklahoma. They had two children, a daughter Laura Stough of Cedar Vale, Kansas and Alpha O. "Butch" Cody of San Angelo, Texas. As a lifelong cowboy, he enjoyed working on ranches in Wyoming, Utah and Nevada, as well as Kansas and Oklahoma. Up until the late 1950's, he continued to gather wild horses out west. Then he and Anna started ranching on their own around Cedar Vale. She preceded him in death on December 9, 2005. He is survived by his daughter, Laura Rutter and her husband Bill and two granddaughters, Debbie Minor and Darla Patton; one son, Butch Cody and his wife Janet and three grandsons, Stallone, Yancy and Wacey Cody; nine great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Anna; one baby sister, Zelma; three brothers, Blaine, Eugene and Charles and one granddaughter, Dianna Patton. Graveside Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at the Round Mound Cemetery, located Northwest of Sedan, Kansas, with Reverend Norman Reeves of Hospice Care of Kansas officiating. The family has suggested memorial contributions to Hospice Care of Kansas and these remembrances may be left in care of David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 209 N. Douglas Street, Sedan, Kansas 67361.