Alva G. "Shorty" Anstine passed away Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at Belton Research Hospital. Shorty was born Oct. 7, 1912, in Kay County, Okla., to Winferd S. Anstine and Elsie Bushnell. He moved to Missouri from Oklahoma in a covered wagon in 1917 and grew up in Henry County. In 1933 he married Erma Faye Dunham and two daughters were born to this union, Doris Dean and Anita Marie. Because he was such a "people person" and believed in hard work and honesty he was successful at whatever he did. He farmed in Henry and Cass County. He had a service station in Harrisonville that burned down in 1953. Following the burn out he sold cars, worked at the Chevrolet plant, drove a milk truck, and became manager of a propane gas facility in Belton where he stayed until mandatory retirement at the age of 65. At the age of 60 he had purchased 40 acres in Raymore. He was back to his first love, the country and the farm. After his retirement he did custom work in the community, plowing and mowing in the spring and summer and moving snow in the winter. Day in and day out he was on his tractor or working with his cows. He didn't quit this work until the age of 95. In 2002 he married Evelyn (Neal) Gibb. Preceding him in death were his parents; his daughter, Anita Chisam; granddaughter, Cathy Harris; his brothers, Earl and Kirk; his sisters, Marie McPherson and Lulu Beebe (just eight days ago) and a companion of 22 years, Mary Zirbel. Surviving are his wife, Evelyn of the home; daughter, Doris Russell and husband Bob, Raymore; two brothers, Leonard (Gerry), Blairstown and Murlin (Mary) Windsor; half sister, Neoma Bailey, Big River, Calif.; six grandchildren, Randy Russell, Panama City, Fla., Gary Russell, Niceville, Fla., Ricky Russell, Signal Mountain, Tenn., Debbie Hurst and Cindy Wood, Raleigh, NC; Brenda Ferguson, Riverside, Calif. He has 18 great grandchildren and one great- great granddaughter; 23 nieces and nephews in MO, IA, MN, NE, WI, CA, NV, HI, AR and eight step-children, Donna Shelton, Deanna Leonard, Janice Mayfield, Bill Neil, Larry Neil, Debbie Enos, Brett Neil and Rose Mangles and his "buddy," Pat Workman. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Cullen Funeral Home with visitation 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will be in Raymore Cemetery. Gifts to Continua Hospice, 13002 State Line Rd, Leawood, KS 66209. Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, (816) 322-5278.
Published in Kansas City Star on November 12, 2010