Obituary of Gerald L. Webb

Coffeyville - Gerald Lee Webb, 79, longtime area businessman, passed away Saturday, June 5, 2010 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 11, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church in Independence with Reverends Jack and Marilyn Gregory officiating. Jerry will lie in state at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville from noon-5 on Wednesday, and then at his former business, the Webb & Rodrick Funeral Home in Independence on Thursday from 9-5. Family visitation will be Thursday evening from 6:30-8:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church's Wesley Center. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or a Jerry Webb memorial at Riverside Park and may be left or sent to David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 N. Cline, Coffeyville, KS 67337. Gerald L. Webb was born November 5, 1930, in Independence, Kansas, to Glen M. and Mary E. (Williamson) Webb. He was raised in Independence and was a member of the Independence Junior Marines during World War II. He graduated Independence High School in 1948 and Independence Junior College in 1950. He attended Kansas University in 1950-1951. He served 3 years, 4 months in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received his degree from the St. Louis College of Mortuary Science in 1955. Jerry was licensed as a funeral director and embalmer and in 1956 joined his mother and brother, Clarence, in the Webb Funeral Home and Ambulance Service. About that time, they purchased Denbo Funeral Home in Elk City and in 1976, merged with Rodrick Funeral Home to form Webb & Rodrick Funeral Home. Jerry was one of the four men that revived Neewollah in 1958, which has grown to Kansas' largest annual celebration. He was a charter member of the Neewollah Board and the only three-time Generalissimo to date and was involved in every aspect of Neewollah, including acting in and producing the musicals, and marshalling the parades. He was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and served on the NFDA convention committee from 1981-1984. He was a member of the National Selected Morticians and the International Order of the Golden Rule. He was a member of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association, holding every possible office, serving as President in 1969-1970, and with his brother, Clarence, became the first brothers to serve in that capacity, and was Morticians of the Southwest Funeral Director of the year in 1970 He was appointed to the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts from 1985-1991, serving as president twice. He was also appointed to and served as chairman of the Kansas Alcohol Beverage Control Board from 1974-1978. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Independence and was Lay Leader, Chairman of Administrative Board and the Council of Ministries, numerous other committees, and a member of the Kansas East Conference Board of Global Ministries. From 1970-80 he was president of the Verdigris Valley Association for Retarded Children, and board member and three year president of the Four County Mental Health Center, member of Mercy Hospital Lay Advisory Board, Chairman of Community Chest and Red Cross, member and president of the Independence Chapter of Compassionate Friends. Served on the board of ICC's William Inge Festival. He was a past member and president of the Independence Jaycees, receiving the 1960 Young Man of the Year Award. He was a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club, the former Metro Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Lodge, the Order of Eastern Star, past commander of the American Legion and member of the VFW. He was a longtime member and chairman of the Memorial Hall Board, was chairman when his class hosted the 1998 MCHS/IHS reunion, member of the Independence Chamber of Commerce and Independence Country Club, served as Chairman of the Independence Celebrity Golf Classic from 1981-1985, and was a member of the KU Alumni Association. On September 4, 1953, he married Gwen Graves and she survives at the home. Jerry Webb is survived by his wife, Gwen, of the home. Two sons: Stan Webb of Phoenix, AZ and Zach Webb and his wife Deanna of Independence. One brother: Bill Webb of Lakewood, CO. Three grandchildren, Zachary, Jacqueline and Maxwell Webb and a step grandchild, Stephanie. Five nieces including Kathy Webb of Wichita; and nephews. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Clarence and Richard, and his son, Frank. Watch Life and Love | Jerry Webb in People & Blogs | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com Tagged as: First United Methodist Church, Mount Hope Cemetery, Riverside Park