J. D. Gilmer

Memorial Services for J.D. Gilmer, 81, Ellinwood, KS will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Ellinwood, KS.  Private inurnment will be at a later date in the Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, KS.  He died on Friday, May 28, 2010 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Topeka, KS.

He was born on August 3, 1928 in Lamar County, AL, the son of Bernice and Ruby Lee Woods Gilmer.  He was a 1946 graduate of Ellinwood High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  He was stationed on Okinawa. He later attended the University of Alabama and the University of Kansas.

Mr. Gilmer was the retired owner of Pride International (import/export) Janitorial Supply. He founded this company in 1990.  He was the former president and general manager of the Misco International Chemicals.  Throughout the 1950’s & 60’s, he worked in the oil field supply business in central Kansas. He worked for Mid-Continent Supply in Great Bend and the Mountain Iron Supply.  Following his retirement, he served as a business consultant throughout the country.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Wichita, KS, the American Legion of Ellinwood, KS and the Rotary Club of Ellinwood.  He was the founder of the Gathering of Eagles, which was an Ellinwood High School Alumni Group, and he was the Founder and President of the Wheat Bowl, Inc. for thirteen years.  This bowl was for NAIA college football teams and the games were played in Barton County.

He was married to Donaleigh Rensch. They later divorced.

Survivors include  two daughters; Leslie Wayman, husband Tom, of Burlington, Iowa, Lindsey Pendry, husband John, of Lawrence, KS, a brother, Bernie Gilmer, of Indianapolis, IN, four grandchildren (Lauren Wayman, Brandon Wayman, Matthew Pendry, & Ryan Pendry) and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials in his name to the Parkinson Disease Research Foundation or to the American Legion Club Room in Ellinwood, KS and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, KS.