E. Dale Kearney

Funeral services for E. Dale Kearney, 88, Lawrence will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 26, 2010, at First Southern Baptist Church in Lawrence, KS.  Mr. Kearney died March 22, 2010 at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, KS.  Military graveside will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, in Humansville Cemetery, Humansville, MO.

He was born September 1, 1921 in Humansville, MO the son of Fred and Maude  (Burchett) Kearney.  He had lived in Lawrence since 1964.

Mr. Kearney served in the Marines during WWII on Midway Island.  He purchased the Ben Franklin store in 1964 in Lawrence after a successful career with FW Woolworth.  He also owned the Pier I Imports stores in Lawrence and Topeka until 1998 when he retired.

He was an active member of the First Southern Baptist Church and served many years as a deacon in the church.  Other memberships included, the Kiwanis Club and spanned 55 + years and included a term as president.  He was also a member of the American Legion, Dorsey-Liberty Post #14.

He married Helen Crawford, childhood sweetheart, March 4, 1944 in Humansville, MO.  She preceded him in death, February 6, 2001.

Survivors include two sons, Jim Kearney, and wife Corky, Lawrence, KS, Bill Kearney, and wife Denise, of Wichita, KS; two grandsons, Ryan, Manhattan, KS, and Shane, Lawrence; two brothers, Virgil Kearney; Bolivar, MO Kenneth Kearney, Rogers, AR; two sisters, Venita Davis, Kansas City, KS, and Ada O’Rear, Lee’s Summit, MO.  He was also preceded in death by his parents; a son, Danny Richard Kearney; one brother, Granville “Ted” Kearney; and a sister, Opal Fern Kearney.

The family will meet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

A memorial in Dale’s name has been established at the First Southern Baptist Church in Lawrence and contributions may be sent in care of the mortuary.