SOUTH HUTCHINSON -Eldon Leigh Showalter, 79, died March 19, 2009, at Mennonite Manor, South Hutchinson.

He was born Aug. 29, 1929, in Larned, the son of Calvin E. and Florence Rice Showalter.

He was a 1947 graduate of Hutchinson High School. A resident of South Hutchinson, he was a truck driver for Dillon's for 21 years. He retired in 1993.

He was a member of South Hutchinson United Methodist Church, South Hutchinson United Methodist Church trustee, Lions Club, Mayor and City Councilman, all at South Hutchinson. He was also a member of American Legion Lysle Rishel Post #68, Steward for Teamsters Local #795 and a volunteer for the Reno County Sheriff's Department. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, serving as a Corporal.

On Dec. 30, 1949, he married Mary Lou Yoder in Hutchinson.

Survivors include: daughters, Jenny Fry and husband, Tim, Hutchinson, Mary Jane Kretzer and husband, Mike, Derby; brothers, Ray and Lowell, both of Hutchinson; sister, Velva Mapes, South Dakota; and four grandchildren and their families, Andy, Michelle and Zachary Fry, Wichita, Julie, Ryan and Jack Wagner, Derby, Emily, Brad, Haley and Sam Wolcott, Lawrence, and Katie, Matthew, Koby and Ellie Stewart, Keller, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael; and two half brothers, Delmar and Donald Chapman.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at South Hutchinson United Methodist Church, with Pastor Tim Ault-Duell presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the church or Hospice Care of Kansas, in care of the mortuary.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.