(From Derfelt Funeral Home)
Roy Leon Derfelt, age 93, a well-known businessman, passed from this life into the presence of his Lord and Savior at 8:10 pm, Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Communities of the Wildwood, Joplin, MO.
Mr. Derfelt was born August 17, 1922 in Galena, KS. He was the youngest of four children born to John Olin and Charlotta Clarice (Bennett) Derfelt. He was a lifetime resident of Galena.
He graduated from Galena High School with the Class of 1941. He met the love of his life after he was admitted to St John’s Hospital, Joplin, MO with pneumonia, H. Virginia Tyler was his student nurse. Dec 7, 1941 was an even more infamous day because it was their first date. They were married in a private ceremony on March 16, 1943 in Galena KS during Virginia’s lunch break from the hospital.
Roy was leaving Galena to serve in the US Army Air Corp during World War II. He was in combat on a small island in the Pacific and witnessed the surrender of the Japanese on that air strip.
Roy returned home to work at Eagle Picher smelter in Galena before getting a job at Spencer Chemical Co. While working there, he began studying at Kansas Teachers College in Pittsburg. He transferred to the Kansas City School of Mortuary Science Kansas City KS.
In 1951, he joined his father as a funeral director at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, KS, a profession he continued to practice well into his 80’s. He eventually became sole owner of the business. It was in 1977, he purchased a funeral home in Baxter Springs, KS. He provided ambulance service to the communities and the surrounding area.
He served on the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts for several years.
He was senior deacon at First Baptist Church Galena where he joined in 1933 at the age of 9. He held countless offices at the church including Sunday School teacher and treasurer of the church, In the 1970’s he was church camp director for the KOAM Youth Encampment. For several years, he served on the Ministers Benefit Committee with the BMA of America. He was a Gideon in the Cherokee County camp. He was also a retired member of the Galena Fire Dept. He had been a member of the Masonic lodge for 70 years as well as several other masonic organizations. Other organizations he had held membership were the VFW, the American Legion, the Galena Chamber of Commerce, the Lions club (where he was a charter member), Kansas Funeral Directors Association and the Galena Mining and Historical museum.
He is survived by his loving wife, Virginia. Two sons, John Derfelt (wife, Imogene), Joplin, MO, Jerry Derfelt (wife, Peggy), Galena; two daughters, Molly Hilton, Springfield, MO, and Mary Vogel (husband, Fred), Galena; 14 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, and large number of nieces, nephews, and friends too close to be called a friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, John M Derfelt, two sisters, Una Mooney and Frieda Paxson, one son in law, Gary Hilton and one daughter in law, Frankie Derfelt.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm, Sunday, April 10, 2016 at First Baptist Church, Galena, KS. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery Galena, KS.
Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to either First Baptist Church or the Gideon’s in care of the funeral home.
