Obituary of Gilber McKinney

Coffeyville - Gilbert "Dean" McKinney, entered into rest on July 1, 2007 at the age of 80. He was born July 29, 1926 in Welch, Oklahoma to Regina Joy (Collins) and Herman Gilbert McKinney. Dean attended Prairie Center and Grandview country schools and Welch High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1944 and served aboard the U.S.S. Washburn in the European, Atlantic and South Pacific theaters of war. Honorably discharged in 1946, he worked for a short time in Western Kansas and then returned to Chetopa where his parents were living. On November 2, 1950 he married his beloved wife, Velma Louise Bates, in the Chetopa Assembly of God Church. Dean worked as a machinist at Jensen Brothers, Acme Machine Shop, Wheatley Valve and Parmac. He was also well known as a television technician at Gene's TV and McBride's TV. After retirement, he opened his own television and antenna business out of his home. He belonged to the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign War and for several years the Triple C Investment Club. His hobbies included restoring a 1949 Chevrolet pickup and clock collecting. Many hours were spent in collecting and restoring his own clocks and repairing clocks for other people. Survivors include: his loving wife of 57 years, Velma of Coffeyville; son, Bruce McKinney of Wichita; daughter Janet Sullivan and her husband Greg of Wichita, grandson Grant Sullivan of Wichita; granddaughter Conni Briggs Sellers and her husband Doug and great grandson Noah Schmidt all of Manhattan a special nephew Roger McKinney and his wife Nammi of Joplin, MO; and several other nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by: daughter, Deanna Briggs, granddaughter Whitney Sullivan, his parents and three brothers, Harold, Arnold and Robert McKinney. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 6, 2:00 p.m. at the First Assembly God Church in Coffeyville, 1504 W. 8th, Pastor James Crandall officiating. Internment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family suggests memorials to the First Assembly of God; contributions may be left with the funeral home, or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 N. Cline Rd., Coffeyville, KS 67337.