Virginia "Gay" Ladner

  Virginia “Gay” Ladner, 68, of Wamego, KS passed away Monday, December 11, 2017 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS.

  On March 4, 1949, Gay was born to Elmer Lee and Virginia (Gilbert) Hopkins in Joplin, MO.  After graduating from Galena High School in 1967, she was united in marriage with David Theodore Ladner on July 1, 1967 in Galena, KS.  He survives of the home.

  She attended the Respiratory Therapy Program remotely through the California College of Health Science and became a certified Respiratory Therapist in 1982.  She also received an Associate’s Degree as an RN from Dodge City Community College and worked for various health organizations and hospitals as a respiratory therapist, emergency room nurse, ICU nurse, hospice nurse and manager of wound care throughout her career.  Over the last few years until her passing she worked for Starr Medical Supply out of Wamego and Manhattan Kansas.

  Gay was a very loving individual for many people she knew and didn’t know throughout her life. Her smile and tender way put her in a category of all her own. Many relied on her for her gentle, warm and caring thoughts and advice and she never tired from helping and caring for others. But what Gay loved most was spending time with family, her children and grandchildren and the smile on her face when she was around family was like no other. She had quite an artistic ability that turned into her hobby of painting, arts and crafts, making flower arrangements and Christmas ornaments for family.  She liked to read and enjoyed the outdoors and loved to work in her flower gardens as her health allowed.  Gay served as a President for the Ford County American Cancer Society, co-chaired committee for Cancer Survivors Day, a committee member on the Hospital Tumor Board & Ethics Committee, started the United Ostomy Association for Ford County, taught CPR classes and was a member of the AARC.  She also started a cancer support group which is still active today.

  She is also survived by three sons, Jeffrey Ladner (Winda), Winchester, KS, Justin Ladner (Leticia Basgal), Wichita, KS, and Jason Ladner (Taylor), Wichita, KS; eight grandchildren, Baylee Ladner, Zaydie Ladner, Adison Ladner, Jase Ladner, and Olivia Ladner, all of Wichita, KS, and Alexis Ladner, Logan Ohlde, and Taylor Ohlde, Winchester, KS; a brother, Gilbert “Gib” Hopkins (Anita), Omaha, NE; a sister-in-law, Marsha Hopkins; and several nieces and nephews.

  She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Alan Hopkins.

  Memorial service for Gay will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Wamego. Visitation will start at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the University of Kansas Center for Advanced Heart Care, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.