Robert E. Force Sr.

Robert E. 'Shorty" Force Sr., 85, died early Sunday morning, February 03, 2013 at the Anthony Community Hospital in Anthony, Kansas. Shorty was born April 21, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas, son of Howard Lewis and Lucille Maude (Stucky) Force. He was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints and long time member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Garden City as well as several RV camping clubs. Shorty grew up in and around Hutchinson and Illinois with his mother. He left school early and began working on the oil rigs that populated the area. He returned to Hutchinson with his family in 1961 and worked as an automobile mechanic for several area garages. He was an equipment mechanic for the Highway Department in 1963 and moved his family to Garden City. After several years with the Highway Department, Shorty left to operate his own business "Shorty's Shoe Repair". In the late eighties, Shorty sold his shoe repair shop and moved to Garden Plain and Wichita area. There he worked at the Cessna plant, the Wichita school system and as a locksmith. He married Daisy Violet Nevins on October 21, 1950 in Greencastle, Indiana, they divorced in September 1973. On July 10, 1975, Shorty married Helen Rose Boyer in Garden City. She survives. Other survivors include one son, Robert E. (Connie) Force Jr., one step-son, Dwight(Ann) Boyer, both of Wichita; 3 daughters, Sidonia Sebring, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Marsha (Dennie)Smith Deerfield, Kansas, Bonnie (Richard) Strickland Argonia, Kansas, one step-daughter, Caroline Atherton West Valley City, Utah., 3 half-brothers, Raymond (Ann) Force, Hiram, Georgia, Gary (Marlene) Force, Tucson, Arizona, Ron (Vivian) Matlock, Oregon, one half-sister Beverly Force and his step-mother Mildred Force, both of Tucson Arizona; and numerous grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Preceding Shorty in death was his parents, 2 grandsons, Rusty McInnis and Lancer Sebring and 1 step-son Gilbert Atherton. Shorty enjoyed being a grandpa, fishing, fixing old TV s and radio and camping. Viewing will be Sunday February 10 from 2:00-4:00pm with services Monday, February 11 at 10:30am both at the Broadway Mortuary. Burial will be at the Penwell Gable Cemetery of Hutchinson, Kansas. Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association in care of the Broadway Mortuary. Share online condolences at www.CozineMemorial.com. Services by Broadway Mortuary.