Rayburn Wikle

Rayburn Dennis Wikle was born on April 30, 1922 the son of Addison W. Wikle and Sallie Riffe Wikle at Sabetha, Kansas. Rayburn attended Eagle Country School and graduated from Sabetha High School with the Class of 1939. He enlisted in the United States Army on March 20, 1946 and was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina as a Military Policeman. In September of 1947 he was discharged and returned to the Sun Springs area and farmed until his retirement in 1989. On November 9, 1967 Rayburn married Leona Dornes Murchison and moved to Sabetha. Rayburn was a long time member of the Sabetha Methodist Church and was an associate member of the Sabetha Trinity Church of the Brethren.


Rayburn died on April 22, 2009 at the Sabetha Community Hospital at the age of 86. He was preceded in death by his parents; step mother, Minnie P. Wikle; four brothers, Vernon Wikle, Baxter Wikle, Leslie Wikle and Hobart Wikle; a grandson, Matthew Murchison was killed in action in Iraq on August 4, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Leona I. Wikle of Sabetha, Kansas; three step sons, Dennis Murchison of Fairview, Kansas, Michael Murchison of Independence, Missouri and John Murchison and his wife, Gina of Sabetha, Kansas; one brother, Guy Wikle of Sabetha, Kansas; one sister, Joelline Stoller of Sabetha, Kansas and 4 grandchildren, Sara Murchison of Los Angeles, California, Melissa Murchison of Overland Park, Kansas, Robert Murchison of Manhattan, Kansas and Emily Murchison of Sabetha, Kansas.


Funeral services will be Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the Trinity Church of the Brethren in Sabetha. A family visitation will be Friday evening 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha. The interment will be in the Sabetha Cemetery with military honors conducted by the V.F.W. Post #7285 of Sabetha. Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Church of the Brethren or the Sabetha Community Hospital sent in care of the funeral home.