Vincent Fairbank, 59, near life-long Ness County resident, died from a heart attack shortly after noon on Friday, June 27. He had suffered with a heart ailment for almost a year. Death occurred while he was driving from his home to Shields. The fatal seizure occurred just west of the Ness-Lane County line, with the driverless car crossing the road ditch, the MOP railroad ditch, and coming to a halt across the railroad tracks.

Fairbank had been a MOP employee since 1926, living at Brownell and Ransom during that employment with a few months having been spent at Shields.

Survivors in the immediate family include: The widow, Mrs. Mae Fairbank of Ransom; seven daughters, Mrs. Floyd Bartlett of Dighton, Mrs. Walter Starling now in Germany, Mrs. Wallace Schweitzer of Ransom, Mrs. Elden Kraft of Great Bend, Mrs. Tony Blackwell of Monahans, Texas, Mrs. Roy Zordel of Ransom, and Dora of the home; five sons, Ralph of Boise, Idaho, Elmer of Ransom, Chester of Dighton, Paul of Hays, and Robert of the home; his mother, Mrs. Amy Fairbank of Bison; a sister, Mrs. Vera Weltz of Phillipsburg; 33 grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held from the Ransom Methodist Church on Wednesday morning, July 2, 10:00 o[‘clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Ray Keller. Interment was in the Ransom Cemetery.

Ness Co. News, July 3, 1958

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OBITUARY

Charles Vincent Fairbank, son of the late D.P. Fairbank and Amy Cooley Fairbank, was born March 7, 1899, near Bison, Kansas, and passed away from a heart attack Friday, June 27, 1958, near Shields, Kansas, aged 59 years, 3 months, 20 days.

When a boy of three, his parents brought him to Ness County, locating of a farm south of Bazine, and he had spent the remainder of his life in the county. In 1915, the family moved to a farm south of Brownell, where they lived for several years.

On December 7, 1918, he was united in marriage to Mae Squier of Brownell. To this union were born 13 children, seven daughters and six sons. One son, Richard, passed away in infancy in May of 1940.

He and his bride continued to live on the farm south of Brownell until 1923, when they moved to Brownell, where he accepted the janitorship of the high school. He held that position for three years, when he resigned to begin his longtime service with the Missouri Pacific Railroad; first living at Brownell, and later moving to Ransom in 1934, which had since been his home.

He was widely known over this section for his interest in sports for both men and boys; participating himself in his younger years, and then transferring that interest to the participation of his sons and others younger with the passing of time.

Nearly a year ago he suffered a heart attack, which forced his temporary inactivity from his work. Although never fully recovering his health, he had always maintained a steadfast determination to return to his work for the railroad.

Besides the infant son, Richard, he was preceded in death by his father, D.P. Fairbank of Bison in December of 1954; and a brother, Vibert, who passed away in infancy in 1911.

Survivors include: The widow, Mrs. Mae Fairbank; seven daughters, Mrs. Floyd (June) Bartlett of Dighton, Mrs. Walter (Audrey) Starling now in Germany; Mrs. Wallace (Burdene) Schweitzer of Ransom, Mrs. Elden (Laura) Kraft of Great Bend, Mrs. Tony (Carol) Blackwell of Monahans, Texas, Mrs. Roy (Esther) Zordel of Ransom, and Dora of the home; five sons, Ralph of Boise, Idaho, Elmer of Ransom, Chester of Dighton, Paul of Hays, and Robert of the home; his mother, Mrs. Amy Fairbank of Bison; a sister, Mrs. Vera Weltz of Phillipsburg; 33 grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held from the Ransom Methodist Church, Wednesday morning, July 2, 1958, 10:00 o’clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Ray Keller. Interment was in the Ransom Cemetery.

Ness Co. News, July 3, 1958