Richard W. Alexander, 91, of Council Grove, KS, passed away on November 25, 2014, at Morris County Hospital.
Wayne was born September 1, 1923 in Council Grove, KS. He was the son of O.E. "Bud" and Maude Carr Alexander. He was the second of three sons.
In high school he excelled in basketball, track and he was an excellent quarterback. He played the trumpet in the CGHS band and played piano by ear. When he and his brother Bob played their instruments from their bedrooms on the farm, the horses and cattle in the corral were always at attention. He graduated from Council Grove High School in 1941. He served in the Army Air Corp from 1943 thru 1946. His training involved flying AT-11, B-29 and PT-22 airplanes. During that time he played trumpet in a band and was known by friends to be ''the sweetest trumpeter of all."
Wayne was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church and a multitude of Cowboy
Associations.
Wayne was an ironworker and also taught roping lessons to teenagers on his farm in Topeka. After retiring he moved back to Council Grove and raised Black Angus cattle on the Alexander Homestead until he moved into C.G. Assisted Living. He was a championship roper and team roper in his early years in Colorado and Kansas. During his later years he owned Thoroughbreds and loved going to Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska to watch them race.
He was married to Irene Smith of Kennebec, S.D., in 1945 in Denver, CO. They were divorced in 1974. They have four children: Connie Alexander, Nancy Sharp (JB), Sandy Cameron (Tim) all of Topeka, KS, Rick Alexander (Carol), Edmond, OK; eight grandchildren: Tiffany Sharp McBride (Ted), Overland Park, KS, Ashley Sharp, Piper Naimibadi (Reza), Ali Cameron, all of Topeka, KS, Caitlin, Gracie and Austin Alexander, Edmond, OK, Corey Reynolds, W.VA; and three great grandchildren: Lauren Sharp, Topeka, KS, James and Charlie McBride, Overland Park, KS. He is also survived by his brothers: Bob (Georgie) Alexander of Council Grove, KS, and Jim (Sharon) Alexander, of Goddard, KS; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Mary Elizabeth Alexander in 1926, two nieces: Vicky Alexander Martin, Piper Lorraine Alexander, and his dog Woody.
On Oct. 11, 2014, Wayne was inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Dodge City, KS. The look of complete satisfaction on his face said it all. He was a champion roper and lifelong cattleman/horseman. He was honored for being a Rodeo Championship Cowboy Old Timer along with his brother Bob, at the Symphony on the Prairie five years ago in the Flint Hills. Their tent was at full capacity and they provided fun conversation for the audience. He made a comment a few months ago that "all I want to do is get back on a horse and rope." He was in his late 80's at the time. He could change hats easily and be the auctioneer at a livestock sale or judge an amateur rodeo. He was raised in an era of hard working, old fashioned cowboys that helped with hundreds of heads of cattle. He rode his horse to school and worked hard when he got home, helping with livestock and branding cattle. He loved his life and especially horses.
A special thank you to Chris, Marla, and the special women who loved and cared for our dad at Diversicare. Thank you also, to the wonderful girls at Morris County Hospital for the devoted attention you gave dad in his final days.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at St. Rose Catholic Church with a rosary at 10:40. Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served immediately following the service.
Memorial contributions in Wayne's memory may be sent to Council Grove Rodeo Assn., Council Grove Senior Center and St. Rose Catholic Church. They may be sent in care of Penwell-Gabel, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.