Obituary of Sylvia Beckner

Coffeyville - Sylvia Marlow Beckner, 97, of Coffeyville passed away Sunday (May 20, 2007) at her home. She was born September 22, 1909 in Harper County, Oklahoma to Grover and Clara Mabelle (Roseberry) Marlow. As a young girl she moved with her parents to Wichita, Kansas where she continued her education graduating from Wichita East High School in 1928. Following high school she attended and graduated from Wichita Business College. After completing business college she became a legal secretary and immediately went to work in a Law Office and continued such work for many years. On May 2, 1931 she married Belton "Bill" Beckner in Wichita. Following their marriage they made their home in Wichita where she continued working in law offices and her husband was a welder at Beech Aircraft Co. during World War II. After World War II, they moved to Caldwell, Kansas where they owned and operated a Home and Auto Supply Store for several years until they moved back to Wichita where her husband became owner of firm manufacturing small aircraft parts. Mrs. Beckner assisted her husband in the operation as Bookkeeper and Payroll Clerk. They later moved the firm to South Coffeyville, OK, after purchasing the former property of the Funk Aircraft Co. Mrs. Beckner assisted her husband in the business. During this time they lived on their ranch south and east of Edna, KS where they raised Black Angus Cattle. After selling the aircraft parts manufacturing firm to a Wichita based company they put in a cafe and fast food drive-in at the south edge of Edna, KS which they operated for one year when they moved the equipment for the drive-in to Vinita, OK where they operated a drive-in until 1974 when they sold it and retired. Sylvia and her husband moved to Coffeyville July 1, 1987. Her husband preceded her in death in February 1988. Following his death she continued to make her home in Coffeyville. Mrs. Beckner was a member of Westside Christian Church in Coffeyville, where she served as Secretary for seven years. She then took some courses at Coffeyville Community College and was employed at the Coffeyville Public Library for seven years when she retired again. Survivors include one brother, Merlin R. Marlow of Wichita, and her adopted family Karen and Jim Kneedler of Edna, KS. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday (May 25, 2007) in the Westside Christian Church, with Reverend Mike Elrod officiating. Burial will be in North Edna Cemetery at Edna, KS. Friends may call on Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. Memorials are suggested to the Westside Christian Church; contributions may be left with the funeral home.