Zelma Mae Funston

Zelma Mae Funston was born July 10, 1922, to Sarah Grace Mustard and William Edgar Thorp in Longford, Clay County, Kansas.  She passed away Sunday, November 26, 2023, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.  She was the youngest of three children.  She tried to keep up with her older brothers, Lloyd, and Leslie Thorp.  Helping with the farm harvest was a fond memory.  She enjoyed animals, especially her horse and her dogs.  She graduated from Chapman High School.

One of her girlfriends was instrumental in arranging a blind date with her future husband, Merwin D. Funston of Abilene, KS.  They stayed in touch when he left for college at Oklahoma State University and later married in 1943.  After her husband returned from his Army career in 1946, they eventually settled in Lawrence for his job with Kansas Power and Light which became his life career.  In her lifetime, Zelma worked as a schoolteacher, a beauty operator, volunteer for various organizations, and most important, full-time wife and mother and friend.  Raised in a country church, she and her husband became active members of the Lawrence Presbyterian Church.  Merwin helped in the building of the new church on Clinton Parkway.  They raised two children, Patricia Ann, and John David.  She and Merwin would later take vacations to Hawaii, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and many states in the US.  They enjoyed family reunions, trips to work on family history and to visit family.  They loved to garden also, and Zelma canned many tomatoes.  They were married 64 years.

Zelma was a polio survivor and lived to be 101 years old.  She was grateful for all the many caretakers at Presbyterian Manor for watching over her and the friends she made continued to interact with over the years.  The family wishes to thank all those who cared for her and their dedicated service to those in need.

Survivors include her daughter, Patricia A. Trapp and husband Rick Trapp, Topeka, KS; her son, John D. Funston and wife, Jenna Finch, Champaign, Illinois; four granddaughters, Dr. Laurie Trapp, Scottsdale, Arizona; Rebecca Trapp Marquez and husband, Jerome Marquez, Tecumseh, KS; Helen Funston, Portland, Oregon and Martha Funston and her husband, Roey Berman, Seattle, Washington.  She was blessed with great-grandchildren, Ajay Sharma, Lawrence, KS; Mercedes Ann Marquez, Tecumseh, KS; Sheena and Marigold Berman, Seattle, Washington and many nieces and nephews and their families.  One granddaughter preceded her in death, Jennifer Lynn Trapp in 1998.  She loved her family so much!

Memorial suggestions per Mike and Zelma are the Lawrence Presbyterian Church, Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, or Douglas County Visiting Nurses sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, KS.  A burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence.