Edwin George Provost

Edwin G. "Ed' Provost, 93, of Topeka, passed away on Saturday, December 11, 2010, at Aldersgate Village. Ed was born in Alma, KS on January 28, 1917, the son of George L. and Gertrude A. Plackett Provost. The family soon moved to Burlingame, KS, where he completed grade school and graduated from Burlingame High School in 1935. He graduated from Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia in 1939. While a student there he earned a B.S. in Education with majors in mathematics and physics and a minor in chemistry. He was elected to the honorary fraternities of Kappa Delta Pi, Kappa Mu Epsilon, and Lambda Delta Lambda. Following graduation he taught mathematics and science in Burlingame High School before joining the U.S. Weather Bureau, now known as the National Weather Service in Houston, TX on June 3, 1941.
Mr. Provost retired from the National Weather Service in July of 1975 after 34 years of service. This time span included service at Houston, TX, Washington, D.C., El Paso, TX, Chicago University, Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, and Ft. Worth, TX, followed by 19 years in Kansas City and four years in Topeka. While in Kansas City he served as Airways Forecaster and also District Forecaster in the National Severe Storms Forecast Unit.
In 1974, he was awarded the Dept. of Commerce Bronze Medal for Meritorious Service. When retired in Topeka, he was serving as Meteorologist in Charge of the Kansas State Forecast Center.

Mr. Provost was a life long member of the Methodist Church and had been a member Crestview United Methodist Church in Topeka since 1971, where he served in various leadership capacities. He was a 30 year member of the Topeka West Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and served as club president. While living in Burlingame and later in the Kansas City area, Mr. Provost was involved for several years as an adult leader in Boy Scout Troops and was the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award for Outstanding Service to Boyhood.

In Topeka he was an active member of the Kaw Valley WOODCARVERS, Topeka Sawduster Club, and Kansas Woodturners. After retirement, he lived for several years in the Auburn area and later in Topeka at Aldersgate Village.

On June 3, 1942, in Bethesda, MD, he was married to Mary Jean Harris, of Scranton, KS. She preceded him in death on December 16, 1997. He was also preceded in death by his son, Edwin Mac on August 9, 2008.

Survivors include his daughter-in-law Ann Provost of Prairie Village, KS; two grandchildren, Rebecca (Kevin) Roper of Roeland Park, KS and Sam (Jessica) Provost of Prairie Village, KS; three great grandchildren, Jake Roper, Lola and Hank Provost; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 21 at Crestview United Methodist Church. Inurnment will follow at a later date in the Burlingame Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Crestview United Methodist Church, 2245 Eveningside Dr, Topeka, KS 66614 or the Good Samaritan Fund at Aldersgate Village, 7220 SW Asbury Dr, Topeka, KS 66614. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is assisting with arrangements.