Howard V Bixby

1899 - 1958  (59 years)

• Name	Howard V Bixby
  Born	7 Aug 1899	Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas
  Gender	Male
  Died	27 Aug 1958	Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
  Person ID	I1816	Rossville
  Last Modified	22 Feb 2017

  
  

  Father	Albert L Bixby,   b. 19 Feb 1873, Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa ,   d. 1 Sep 1960  (Age 87 years)
  Mother	Rosa Mae Young Bixby,   b. 5 Mar 1879, Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas ,   d. 30 Dec 1947, Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas  (Age 68 years)
  Married	8 Sep 1897
  Family ID	F465	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Theda Louise Cordon Bixby,   b. 13 May 1906, Bancroft, Nemaha County, Kansas ,   d. 6 Dec 1979, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas  (Age 73 years)
  Married	7 Aug 1927	Soldier, Jackson County, Kansas
  Children	+ 1. Eula Beth Bixby Oxandale   2. Howard Robert Bixby
  Last Modified	26 Dec 2019 20:53:51
  Family ID	F477	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Married - 7 Aug 1927 - Soldier, Jackson County, Kansas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Documents » Slide Show		Obituary- Bixby, Howard Heart attack fatal for Howard Bixby Howard V. Bixby, 59, died Wednesday, August 27, at a Topeka hospital minute after he entered because of sudden illness. Death was caused from a heart attack. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Penwell-Gable Funeral Home in Topeka. He was born in Rossville and had taught school a number of years. The last few years he had been principal at Pauline Grade School.
  		Obituary- Bixby, Howard 2 Eulogy To A Useful Life By Ray T. Ingalls Seneca, Kansas Howard V. Bixby, 1899-1958, Dedicated Teacher, Civic Servant, Practical Humanitarian and Administrator in a Changing World. * * * Every life that completes its earthly span, merits some record of having lived. There is always some spark of honor. When that life has been one of exceptional devotion to fellow beings, unusual in its contribution to human welfare and progress, it is worthy of more than mere dates and data. Historians, newspapers and clergy have, in all ages, endeavored to portray the inspiration, philosophy and spark of enthusiasm that made that life so worth while. Such a life was that of Howard V. Bixby, principal of the Pauline grade school district, at the south edge of Topeka, when death came suddenly Tuesday, August 26, 1958. Howard was just starting his sixth year at Pauline, that includes the Forbes Air Base and the new Capehart housing district. Enrollment the past year had suddenly increased from some three hundred to more than seven hundred. The new school building, while not entirely complete, could still be used. By using the old building and with five class rooms on the Base, his plans were to get classed underway last week. On Monday night he had met with his corps of nearly thirty teacher, and was pleased and proud of the cooperation and willingness to make the very best of crowded class rooms, and facilities that would add to their work. Howard was busy helping arrange the furniture for the class rooms, Tuesday morning, when stricken and his death came, shortly after his arrival at Stormont-Vail hospital. He was born at Rossville, August 7, 1899, attended the grades and graduated from high school there, and the home town remained one of the bright spots, for infrequent visits, in a busy life. His aged father, Albert L.; one brother, Oscar H., and Doris A., one of seven sisters, lived there. He maintained his Masonic membership, in Hesperian AF&AM, there. As a member of the Rossville Palomino Saddle Club, he was able to bring back some of the joys of boyhood. Other sisters are Martha McCaine, Kansas City; Vernadel Macha, Delia; Ruby Freel, Mary Eggelson, Melba Ziegler, Topeka; and Juanita Stevenson, Sodona, Arizona. The respect and kindred affection, for a life dedicated to public service, is often reflected in the thoughts and remarks of friends at his burial. Howard had been principal of the Bern school five years, two years at Sabetha, eleven at Wetmore and four years at Netawaka, before going to Shawnee County. An hour before the funeral cortege was expected from Topeka, cars filled the parking space of the Wetmore cemetery. Friends from all walks of life, each with some personal memory of a problem solved or a job well done, with his help, quietly visited of that experience, and their regret of his passing. Although nearly forty year a teacher, Howard never ceased to be a student; a bachelor’s degree in education at Emporia, was followed by a master’s in education administration at KU. Two summers in post graduate study at Leland Stanford in California and further work at the KU law school. Howard had found the dignity and ceremony of the Episcopal church to his liking and was a member of the Wetmore church. The Rt. Rev. Leslie S. Olsen, dean of the Topeka Episcopal cathedral, officiated at his funeral service in the Penwell-Gabel Chapel at 1:30 Friday, Soloist C. J. McKee sang the “The King of Love My Shepherd is” and “The Lord’s Prayer,” with Harriet Anderson, organist. Active pall bearers were Glen and Jim Freel, Ron Gabbert, nephews; Bill Moulden, Marvin Wathor and Chester Meers, former student and teachers on his staff. Honorary were Lloyd Perryman, Charles Bye, Dean Lichlyter, Ralph Weed and Rudy Kidd, close friends and fellow Kiwanians. Shawnee County friends filled the chapel at the service, including Colonel Thompson, commander, and others of the personnel at Forbes.
  		Obituary- Bixby, Howard 3 He found a surprising amount of time and talent for civic work. His service club was the Kiwanis. He was a charter member at Wetmore, had transferred to Topeka and recently helped form the South Side Club at Pauline. He was proud of his eight years perfect attendance, admitted he was late sometimes, but was always there. During his years at Wetmore, he served as secretary of the Nemaha County Fair. The dream and ambition of every boy that grows up in rural Kansas, is to some day own a farm and have live stock to look after, and Howard grew up in that pattern. He was truly thankful, when his savings enabled him to buy the old Gill farm of 54 acres, a mile south of Wetmore, and start with a few Hereford cattle. Later be bought 16 acres north and across the road, and later 120 acres to the east - but the thrill of his own land and white face cattle never ceased and he was thankful for a dream fulfilled. It was as a family man, perhaps, that his friends revered him most. His worship of Theda, his wife, was an inspiration to all that knew them. Their first born, Eula Beth, (Mrs. Warren Oxandale of Netawaka) was a real event in their lives, and when their son, Howard R. (Bob of KSC, Manhattan) came along their joy seemed complete. Grand children (born to the Oxandales) came as a rewarding experience. Marcia Jo and Timothy Alan were taken in stride, but when Brian Howard came along, his grandfather Bixby simply wrote: “It’s a boy, with the weight, named Howard,” on the blackboard and told his classes that was the lesson for the day. Howard was a member of the Scottish Rite and Arab Temple of the Shrine at Topeka, and found time to enjoy their meetings and take part in their activities. It was entirely fitting that Elmer Johnson of the Netawaka Masonic lodge, long time friend and co-worker, should give the ritual at his grave. Always an able orator in the ceremony, Mr. Johnson seemed to add special sincerity and meaning as he placed the white apron and sprig of evergreen on the casket. Rev. LeRoy Davis, pastor of the Wetmore Baptist church gave the prayer and benediction. This review is more extensive than usual, but is written in the hope that human values and what really constitutes useful and worth while service will gain a larger attention from the reading public. The big city press carries daily columns of celebrities in the athletic and show business world - their scoring, batting averages, extra marital involvement down to the last sordid detail, together with their life time history, minute details and illustrated cheese-cake measurements. Just how much greater was Howard’s service to humanity - proper education and eliminating juvenile delinquency. Friends will want to carry a memory picture of Howard, with his arm across the shoulder of a boy, who was in pain from some rough playground injury; or in earnest conference with a small girl, to who the problems of life seemed too great. He understood their needs and sincerely wished to help them. Just a few of many letters of sympathy to Mrs. Bixby and family, and tributes to their friend: “We worked together harmoniously and I admired him personally and respected his judgment.”--Wendell Godwin, Topeka Supt. Of Schools. “His service to the boys and girls he taught will be his memorial. What greater can anyone have?--Donald A. McConnell, Junction City Supt. Of Schools. A friend of two score years, who started his school career at Goff. A fellow teacher: “How much I gained from the two years I was allowed to work with him. How often he said: “As long as a youngster really tries, even though his work is poor; I will not fail that child.”--Virleen. Just a small pupil: “I hated to see Mr. Bixby go like this, because I loved him so much.” --Vance