Donald Allen Small, Colonel, US Army, Ret

18 Feb 1916 in Conway Springs, Kansas - 24 Feb 2003 in Wichita, Kansas 

CONWAY SPRINGS - Small, Donald A., 87, retired farmer, educator and U.S. Army Colonel, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003. Service 10:30 a.m. Saturday, First Presbyterian Church, Conway Springs. Don was born Feb. 18, 1916 at Conway Springs, Kan. to Edward P.G. Small and Ruth Evangeline Allen Small. He was a 1933 graduate of Conway Springs High School. Mr. Small continued his education and attended the University of Wichita graduating with a B.S. in Business in 1938. He later received his teaching certificate from Friends University and a master in education administration from Wichita University. Mr. Small received his first commission in the U.S. Army on May 31, 1938 as a second lieutenant in R.O.T.C. and was assigned to Fort Huachuca, Ariz. for seven months. In the fall of 1940 he transferred to the Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii. Don married Alice Jane Brown on June 20, 1941 while stationed in Oahu, Hawaii. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Alice Jane returned to the mainland U.S. Don traveled to the Solomon Islands and was involved in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He received a silver star in 1943 for his gallantry in action. In 1943, Don was returned to the U.S. and was assigned to Camp Walters, Texas. He returned to Conway Springs in 1945 but remained on active duty in the Army Reserves for 22 years. Don was a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth and was promoted to Colonel in 1954. Don farmed as well as taught school at Wichita West High School. He retired in 1978 after 18 years on the faculty. He retired from farming in March, 1982. Don was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Conway Springs, He was involved in the Presbyterian men's quartet and church choir for many years as well as Sunday School teacher and committeeman. Don was a 60 year member of Mistletoe Lodge #269 A.F. and A.M. Conway Springs. He served on the Conway Springs Board of Education for 15 years. He was a life member of the Retired Officers Association, the 25th Infantry Division Association and the Wichita State University Alumni Association. Don was a past president of the Sumner County Farm Bureau and had served on the Sumner County Planning Board. Preceded in death by: parents; brother, Delbert Small; sister, Millie Sprofkin; son, John Lauren Small. Survivors: wife, Alice Jane; son and daughter-in-law, William and Kathy Small of Hutchinson; daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Jack VanDijk of Milford, Del., Susan and Dr. Ed Morris of Gaithersburg, Md.; brothers, Raymond Small of Las Cruces, N.M., James Small of Elkland, Mo., Dr. Keith Small of Denver; six grandchildren. Memorials established with Presbyterian Manor Good Samaritan Fund, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and First Presbyterian Church, Conway Springs. Ebersole Mortuary.

Published by Wichita Eagle from Feb. 27 to Feb. 28, 2003.