Carl Eugene Wiltfong

Carl Eugene Wiltfong, son of Leslie and Effie (Higgins) Wiltfong, was born February 19, 1923, on a farm south of Dellvale, Kansas. He passed away August 5, 2021, at Whispering Pines at the age of 98.

Eugene grew up and lived in Norton County all 98 years, except when he went to war. He attended rural grade schools and graduated from Lenora High School in 1941, with a two-year elementary teaching certificate after passing the Kansas teacher exams. He taught two years in rural schools before serving in the Army from 1944-46. He spent two plus years in the service in the Pacific. While in the service, he graduated from Cooks’ and Bakers’ School and was assigned to the 98th Division and then he was transferred to the 25th Division where he was made the Mess Sgt. Eugene was a private cook for Officer Mullen, General Brown, and cooked for General Eisenhower when he visited the 25th Division while he was in Japan.

Upon returning home, he had a teaching position waiting for him in the Lenora Grade School as the upper grade teacher and coach. He had filled this position for 12 years, when he accepted a teaching position in Norton in 1958. After two years of classroom teaching, he accepted the position as elementary principal in 1960, which he served for 21 years, then seven years as the Junior High Principal and school athletic director (1981-1988)

He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Fort Hays State College after thirteen consecutive summers on campus. He had additional hours from Kansas State and Kansas University.

In 1954, Eugene married Maxine Stephenson of Lenora. To this union were born, son Douglas, daughter Beverly, and son Scott.

He served his community in so many capacities, such as: Sunday School Teacher, church treasurer, scout leader, Superintendent of the Horse Department at the Norton County Fair, Norton Saddle Club, and Norton Horse Council. Eugene was a board member of the Norton Housing Dept., Norton Andbe Home, and Lions Club. He also supervised the Norton annual punt, pass, and kick football event for several years and was a little league baseball coach. He was an avid horseman and participated in the annual Veteran’s Day Parade, honoring the deceased veterans with his horse and empty saddle along with him.

Eugene also received several awards and honors as an educator, the Master Teacher Award from Emporia in 1978, Outstanding Rural School Administrator of small schools from Kansas State in Manhattan in 1981, was selected as the Outstanding Elementary Principal of Northwest Kansas and was inducted as a permanent member of KAESP by the Kansas Elementary Principal’s Assoc. He was also awarded the Honorary FFA Chapter Degree by the Norton Senior High School Class of 1990, and was nominated and inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame in 2009 in Dodge City.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Effie Wiltfong; wife, Maxine; brothers, Harold, Gerald, and Max; and sister, Dona Roberts.

He is survived by his children: Douglas and wife Kelly Wiltfong of Stockton, Kan., Beverly and husband Steve Brands of Ottawa, Kan., and Scott and wife Brenda Wiltfong of Grand Island, Neb.; grandchildren: Kyle (Kerri) Brands, Jordann Wiltfong, Riley (Taylor) Wiltfong, Stephanie (Jason) Haverkamp, Justin Wiltfong, Carson Wiltfong, and Kalee Wiltfong; great-granddaughter, Bella Brands; brother, Glen and wife Elinor Wiltfong of Norton, Kan.; sisters-in-law, Betty Wiltfong of Norton, Kan. and Marcelyn (Dave) Bangle of Wellington; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 14, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Norton. Burial with military honors will follow at the Norton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1-7:00 p.m. Friday, August 13th, at the funeral home with family present from 5-7 p.m. Western attire for the service is appropriate.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eugene and Maxine Wiltfong Scholarship Fund, sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com