Obituary: Horace Reed Toevs

Horace Reed Toevs, 91, was the third of seven children born to Henry and Elizabeth (Chappel) Toevs on Feb. 13, 1925.

He passed to a life in the Spirit on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, at Kansas Christian Home. He was raised in Newton and attended public schools, where he met Ione Conner. As Horace and Ione continued in school together, theirs became a loving, committed relationship. By the time Horace graduated from high school and joined the Navy in 1943, Ione was prepared to wait until he returned from his tour of duty to be united in marriage.

As a seaman, Horace was trained to be a signalman, using flags and lights to communicate with other ships instead of by radio, on the Wingéd Arrow—a troop transport in the Pacific. In fact, at the time the atomic bombs were dropped, the Wingéd Arrow was prepared to invade Japan. In 1946, Horace was discharged from his Navy service and returned to Newton, where he attended the University of Kansas and Wichita State University.

Horace and Ione were married on Nov. 5, 1950, in a ceremony at First Christian Church, where the couple became very dedicated and active members. They were blessed with the birth of two daughters, Denise (Toevs) Ternes and Connie Toevs.

Horace and his father opened and operated Toevs Men’s Wear at 517 Main Street in Newton. Upon Henry’s death, Horace continued the store’s operation, which lasted 40 years. At one time, he was a partner in a local Chrysler-Plymouth car dealership and also learned to fly his own planes, which he kept at Newton Airport, where, at times, he even volunteered to oversee the airport’s operations.

In 2000, Horace and Ione moved to the campus of Kansas Christian Home, where they lived for 16 years. Yet, their transition to retirement community life only seemed to enhance Horace’s civic and church-related service. He was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce; a life-long member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Masons and Harvey County Shrine, the Midian Shrine, and served as director of the Jesters of the Shrine; member of the First Christian Church Board; Axtell Christian Hospital Board; 1972 Board Chair of the Kansas Christian Home; and member of the Building Committee for the 75-Bed Building Development program.

As KCH campus residents, Horace and Ione enjoyed full participation in the KCH Auxiliary. They also traveled all over the United States, coast to coast, and to Alaska in their mobile home.

Horace was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Elizabeth Toevs; brother Donald Toevs; and sisters Marcella Throne and Judy Cox.

He is survived by his wife Ione Toevs; daughters Denise Ternes and Connie Toevs; granddaughters Daniell, Vanessa, Briana, and Lindsey; and great-grandson Weston.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, at First Christian Church of Newton. A gathering with friends and family will follow the service at the Meridian Center in Newton.

Memorials have been established for the following: Kansas Christian Home, First Christian Church and the Good Shepherd Hospice; all of Newton.

Tags from the story
0 replies on “Obituary: Horace Reed Toevs”