Maynard Blair Tanner's Obituary
Maynard B. Tanner, age 98, of Moline, Kansas passed away Saturday, April 24, 2010 in Wichita, Kansas. He was born on June 16, 1911, in Wamego, Kansas to Charles and Adalatha (Snodgrass) Tanner, the youngest of eight children.
He graduated from high school in Clay Center, Kansas in 1929 and completed one year of college in Emporia, Kansas. On September 20, 1929 Maynard was united in marriage to Beverly Neva Piatt in Emporia, Kansas and she preceded him in death on January 28, 1984. On November 28, 1986 he married Orien Walker in Moline, Kansas.
Maynard worked in the oilfields near Pawhuska, Oklahoma and in the oilfield trucking business out of Plainville, Kansas, during the 1930s and early 1940s. He entered the Army on July 31, 1942 and served through September 30, 1945. Maynard was a field artillery forward air controller with the 45th Infantry Division in the European Theater during World War II. He participated in the invasions of Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Southern France along with other members of the 45th. Maynard received a battlefield commission in 1944 and was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters during his combat tour. After separation from the Army in September 1945, he operated a fixed base operation at the municipal airport in Russell, Kansas. Maynard and his family moved to Southeast Kansas in the 1950s and was active in the oil production business until his retirement in 1986. He lived in Moline for approximately 50 years before moving with his wife Orien to the assisted living facility at Park West Plaza in Wichita.
Maynard was a member of the Moline United Methodist Church and Moline American Legion, Ferguson – Speace Post #388.
He is survived by his wife Orien of Wichita, Kansas, one son James Tanner and his wife Norma of Midwest City, Oklahoma, two daughters Joan Blankenship of Mesa, Arizona and Janet Mueller and her husband Walter of Richardson, Texas, ten grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by seven step children; Loreta Ryan and her husband Dick, Joe Walker and his wife Shirl, Phil Walker and his wife Margaret, Billy Rex Walker, Marlene Edgington and her husband Jim, Beth Llafet and her husband Kent and Margie Dunn, and numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Moline United Methodist Church with Pastor Chantilly Lovelace officiating. Interment will be held Thursday at 2:30 PM at Janesville Township Cemetery west of Hamilton, Kansas. Military Honors will be provided by Ft. Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1 to 8PM at the funeral home. Family suggests memorial contributions to Moline United Methodist Church or Moline Friendship Meals and may be left with the funeral home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.countrysidefh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Zimmerman Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.
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