Max Diller

Max R. "Buck" Diller, 91, Topeka, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2007.

Buck was born August 24, 1915 in Washington, Kansas, the son of Victor Otto and Elva Martha (Davis) Diller. He grew up in rural Morrowville and graduated from Morrowville Rural High School in 1932.

He served as a teacher and administrator in Morrowville, Miltonvale and Alma schools for 20 years. He then went to work for the Rock Island Railroad as a Conductor-Brakeman, retiring in 1980.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Germany, was captured during the Battle of the Bulge, and was a P.O.W. for 6 months in Dresden during the Dresden fire bombings.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge AF & AM, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the National Association of Railroad Employees.

Buck married Vivian Elnora Odgers on May 25, 1934. She survives. Other survivors include daughters, Connie Lee Moritz and husband, Don, Overland Park, KS, Sue Ann Bryant, Westlake Village, CA, Debbie Drum and husband, Loren, Canyon Lake, TX, Heather Elliff and husband, Carson, Springfield, MO; 5 grandchildren; a sister, Jean Diller, Grand Junction, CO; 2 step-grandchildren and 6 step-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Judie Murphy; sister, Geraldine Zahn; and a brother, Lawrence Diller.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, at the Colmery-O'Neil Veterans Administration Medical Center Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will be in Leavenworth National Cemetery on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 1880 SW Gage, Topeka, Kansas 66604.

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