John L. Torrez, 92, died Jan. 17, 2010, at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson. He was born Dec. 8, 1917, the son of Pablo Martinez and Candelaria Lopez Torrez. John graduated from Hoisington High School in 1938 and then served in World War II as a Corporal with the Army. He worked as a grain elevator operator with Jim Barrett Elevator and then Collingwood Elevator, both of Hoisington. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W., American Legion and the Knights of Columbus, all of Hoisington. John was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Hoisington and attended St. Teresa's Catholic Church, Hutchinson.

On May 4, 1946, he married Bessie Navarro in Hutchinson. She died Aug. 8, 2009.

Survivors include: a daughter, Christine Tonche and husband Marcos Salgado Sr., Hutchinson; a son, Arthur Torrez, Wichita; grandchildren, Jocelyn Abernathy and husband Tim and Libby Torrez, El Dorado; great-grandchildren, Haleigh Marie (Tonche) Kerns, Hutchinson, and Joshua Torrez, El Dorado; and a brother, Jesus L. Torrez and wife Wanda, Great Bend.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Alex Tonche; five brothers, Fidel, Salvador, Tony, Juan and Tommy Torrez; and an infant sister, Lupe Torrez.

Celebration of Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2010, at St. Teresa's Catholic Church with Father Nicholas Voelker presiding. Rosary will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary Chapel. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary.

Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park. Memorials may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in care of the mortuary. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal message for the family.