OVERBROOK — Calvin Richard Ufford, 95, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, in Overbrook, with his family by his side.
He was born May 15, 1926, to Richard Herbert and Bertha Mae (Peters) Ufford. He was raised southwest of Oberlin on the farm his grandfather homesteaded in 1874. He attended Addleman Country School and graduated from Decatur County High School in May 1944. He also attended Kansas State University.
Calvin married Ruth JoAnn Lincoln Oct. 28, 1949, in Oberlin. Two sons and a daughter were born to them.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy as a motor machinist mate thirrd class, and was honorably discharged June 3, 1946. He returned to Oberlin and worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. He later moved to Hiawatha for eight years, and then to Overbrook for 11 years. He retired in 1981, after 35 years of service. In 1987, Calvin and JoAnn returned to Oberlin to live in the house he moved to 602 West Sappa Street in 1956. In 2020, he moved to Berryton to live with his daughter, and later moved to Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook.
Calvin provided leadership to Boy Scout troops in Oberlin and Hiawatha for many years. In addition, he served nine years on the Overbrook City Council and twice served as Overbrook Mayor, April 1977 to April 1979, and again June 1985 to June 1987. He was well-known for his hobbies of hunting Indian artifacts, collecting antiques, woodworking and restoring antique tractors.
He was a member of the Overbrook United Methodist Church, the American Legion, and the Mini-Sappa Antique Club of Oberlin. In later years, he was often called upon to give narration of the last Indian raid in Kansas, which occurred in Decatur County in 1878.
Calvin was preceded in death by a son, Michael, in 1951; his wife, JoAnn, in 2011; and his parents.
He is survived by his son, Richard Ufford (Wendy), Carbondale; his daughter, Janie Rutherford (Rob Roy Rutherford III), Berryton; five grandchildren, Shannon Warthen (fiancé Joseph Pritchard), Sara Ufford, Corey Ufford (Courtney), Rob Roy Rutherford IV (Isha), and James Rutherford (Amy); six great-grandchildren, Colton Warthen, Casen Warthen, Stephon Johnson, Addison Ufford, Ember Jo Ufford and Rob Roy Rutherford V; and nieces and nephews.
Services are pending at Paul’s Funeral Home, Oberlin. For more information, visit PaulsFH.com.
