Alwin H. Rector, 97, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday evening, October 28, 2012. He was born on his grandfather's homestead seven miles south of Glen Elder, Kan., on June 23, 1915, to Hally Rector and Effie Humes. At the age of four, he and his family moved to a farm near Lincoln, Kan., where he attended grade and high school. He attended Kansas State University, receiving a degree in electrical engineering in 1937. After graduation he was employed by the General Electric Company in their test department as a student engineer in various eastern manufacturing plants. In 1940 he was employed by the Indianapolis Power & Light Company as a distribution engineer. During World War II, he entered the Army Signal Corps serving in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer in Washington, D.C. After the Japanese surrender he was sent to General MacArthur's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, where he participated in the upgrading of the Japanese government into a modern democracy. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain and continued to serve in the headquarters as a civilian employee. After returning from Japan in 1947, he settled in the Kansas City area where he was employed by the Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company. He became a partner in 1961, a senior vice president in 1976 and retired in 1980. He was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, the Engineers Club of Kansas City, the Consulting Engineers Council of Kansas City and was licensed to practice engineering in 15 states. He was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church and served several yeas on its Administrative Board. In 1939 he married Joyce Ellen Sherman of Lincoln who preceded him in death in 1995. He and Joyce are survived by a daughter, Sue Ellen Najim of Wichita, Kan.; a son, John Sherman Rector and his wife Paula of Overland Park; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren; a sister, Wanda Rose of Salina, Kan., and her three children. In 1997 he married Fern Daniels of Leawood, Kan. He is also survived by Fern Rector, her children, Robert and his wife Kim, Dick and his wife Renee, Kate Gray and her husband Dave, and four grandchildren. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at St. John's United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo., followed by the funeral service at 12 p.m. Burial will be at Corinth Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. John's United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo.

Published in Kansas City Star on October 30, 2012


Submitted by Mike Phillips