Charles H. Rankin

October 25, 1925 - May 25, 2015

Charles H. Rankin, 89, son of Henry (Sox) and Alice Rudolph Rankin passed peacefully into eternity Monday Morning, May 25, 2015 at the Attica LTC home. Charles was born October 25, 1925 in Medicine Lodge, KS and grew up on the family farm in Ridge Township East of Medicine Lodge, in a house filled with music and love. He went to four years of grade school on Ridge Road and then to Sharon, after which he left home to attend High School at St. Joseph Military Academy in Hays. World War II was well underway when Charles graduated so he volunteered to go in place of his cousin Max Kernohan who worked on the Rankin farm and already had a young family. As Charles said, "Max was a better farmer than me anyway." During WWII he served in the Pacific ToW in the Phillipines and Korea as a Tech Sgt. with the army's 6th Infantry Division Recon, but thankfully "never fired a gun in anger." While in the Army Reserve, after the wartime service, he studied Engineering at Kansas State University and was always pleased with his time as a Wildcat. Chaz married the love of his life, Mildred (Kay) Depenbusch on April 27, 1957. The two loved friends, family and dancing and filled their lives with all of these, they were members of the local 80 and 8 dance club as well as the 40 and 10. Bridge Club was another of many functions that he and Kay enjoyed doing with many friends and they hosted many parties. To this union were born three sons and a daughter. Charlie was a proud and loving father who enjoyed taking his family on vacations and watching his children and grandchildren grow, and enjoyed attending their events and programs. Charles was first a farmer and a rancher who also had a job in town at the Gold Bond Gyp Mill to help support his growing family. He cared deeply for the land and all that grew upon it. He worked long and slept short all his working life. He maintained a cow calf herd well into retirement. Charles Rankin clearly took after his father whose obituary stated "was a man whose kind and unassuming disposition endeared him to everyone with whom he came in contact." He was a faithful man who had a love for the Holy Rosary Catholic Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus; as well as the American Legion. He enjoyed food very much but wouldn't gain weight in spite of this. He was a husband, father, teacher, provider, farmer, and rancher. Charles was preceded in death by his father Henry (Sox) Rankin, mother Alice, Brother-in-Law Robert Widdows; and will be dearly missed by his wife Mildred (Kay), son Hugh (Doni) Rankin of Pensacola, FL, son Colin (Terri) Rankin of Athens, AL, daugter Alicia (Fred) Van Ranken of Lindsborg, and son John (Jeana) Rankin of Wichita, sister Alicia Widdows of Wichita, grandson Weston Van Ranken of Lindsborg and granddaughter Jessica Van Ranken of Manhattan, Step-Grandchildren Chad and Kristin Lindsay and families. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104. Vigil service will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medicine Lodge, KS. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 29, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medicine Lodge, KS with Father Firmin Kyaw officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge, KS with military honors by the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Memorials may be sent to Holy Rosary Catholic Church or the Barber County Veteran's Memorial in care of the funeral home.