Wilmer R. Piper

Wilmer Renwick Piper was born on May 25th, 1914 in Oakdale, Illinois the sixth of seven children. He passed away on July 30th, 2011 at age 97.

He attended a one-room grade school in Oakdale, Illinois and worked on his family's farm and taught elementary school during the depression. He attended Southern Illinois University for three years and graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 1937. There he met, and later married, Katheryn Lathom on June 1st, 1939. This past June, they celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. While in college, he lettered in track all four years and ran against Jesse Owen in St. Louis in 1935. "Running just one more lap" taught him a life lesson in perseverance.

After World War II, he and Katheryn moved to Streator, Illinois where he taught in the high school. In 1948, they moved to Topeka and he began teaching history at Washburn Rural High School where he taught until he retired in 1979. After he retired he tutored inmates helping them gain their GEDs. He also led Bible Studies at retirement homes into his 90's. Wilmer loved his big vegetable garden and won first place for his garden in Topeka when he was 88. He was still planting 90 tomato plants when he was 92.

Wilmer was a life-long member of the Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church where he was also an ordained Elder for many years. He considered the members of the church his "second family."

He is survived by his wife, Katheryn, and four children, Judie Relf (Jim), Donald Piper (Boni), Rosalie Bean (Larry), and David Piper (Jolene). His grandchildren are Julie, Jana, Jaime, Aaron, Karli, Sarah, Earl, and Megan and his step grandchildren are Kelly and Matthew. Wilmer also had fifteen great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 6:00 -7:30 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka. Memorial services will be at 11 am on Saturday, August 6th at the funeral home with burial to follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church, 8345 SW 33rd, Topeka, KS 66614 or the Good Samaritan Fund at Topeka Presbyterian Manor, 4712 SW 6th Ave, Topeka, KS 66606.