Corinth Cemetery
Prairie Village, Johnson County, Kansas
The Corinth Cemetery is located in Prairie Village, Johnson County, Kansas, about one block east of Mission Road on 83rd Street. It is in a quiet, upper middle class residential neighborhood bordering an upscale business area.
During several visits to the cemetery from April to September 2000, a rhythm was sensed for both the neighborhood and cemetery. An elementary school faces Mission Road with its playground backing nearly to the cemetery, and children were heard playing soccer and practicing marches with lively music. I could not help thinking what a fine place it would be to spend eternity within earshot of these children – the complete circle of life.
Eighty-Third Street is well traveled, and the cemetery is visited often. Many flowers and tokens of remembrance were placed for holidays and special family days. It is well cared for and no evidence of vandalism was found other than one or two not-recently broken stones. Mature trees shade much of the cemetery, and young trees await their time. Lovingly-placed plantings of yucca and lillies are carefully mowed around. New spots of soil show a careful eye toward keeping the surface level. Many of the older markers are eroded by time and the elements, but more elegant granite markers will look the same in 100 years as they did a century ago. The cemetery is said to be "closed," meaning all plots are spoken for, but burials continue on a regular basis. Each visit revealed new burials and the placement of splendid new markers.
The residents of the neighborhood were seen respectfully walking through the cemetery exercising their pets, casually looking at the history surrounding them, or taking shortcuts from the nearby grocery, through concealed gates in the the cemetery fence to their homes. It was joyful to see this mesh of life with this historic and sacred ground.
The older graves are on the east end of the cemetery, and the oldest burial in the cemetery was noted to be John Majors. His stone is badly eroded, but the death date appears to be 24 Jan 1838 (or 1829?) at age 11 years. The 1834, 1844, 1852, 1860 deaths of Hoge children are notated on the back of the large Hoge marker, but it is not clear whether their burials occurred at Corinth Cemetery. There are many gaps in the older section, suggesting that headstones have simply disappeared, but there are also very recent burials on that end and throughout the entire cemetery.
A memorial marker was erected in the center of the cemetery in 1871 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but there is no adjoining church now. I wanted to know something about the people buried here and examined Johnson County, Kansas marriage records from 1870 to 1890, finding none of them. The proximity of the cemetery to the Missouri state line suggests that the families probably conducted their legal business in Jackson County, Missouri, and perhaps even lived there, as did the Alexander Majors family, whose farmhouse is restored and protected at 83rd Street and State Line Road, the next main road situated only a few blocks to the east.
Readers will note that members of the prolific Boone family are buried here – integral to the history of the whole area, and owners of a large amount of land at about 89th Street and Wornall Road on the Missouri side now called Santa Fe Hills.
Today, the inhabitants of the cemetery reflect an amazing mix of nationalities, creeds, and heritages. Many large family groups rest there. The markers show the prosperity of the area from the beginning of the cemetery until the current day.
The cemetery is rectangular in shape, and headstones face east and west, except for a single row which faces north and is found along the south fence. The oldest burials comprise approximately one-fourth of the cemetery on the east end, where one entrance separates them. The entrance road turns west half-way into the cemetery and continues to the west end, where it exits again onto 83rd Street.
Transcription was begun in the southwest corner and continued row by row to the northeast corner, all rows being recorded south to north. The row along the south fence was recorded last.
This work is dedicated to the hearty settlers of the Kansas City area to whom state and county lines meant little and family and neighbors meant everything.
Margaret Richardson Bates
September 2000
Corinth Cemetery
Graves are listed beginning in the southwest corner of the cemetery. The rows are recorded from south to north.
ROW 1
South Fence 01/00
RACINE, Frederick P. 01/01a
25 Sep 1918 - 01 Oct 1997
CWO3 USAF WWII Korea
s/w Margaret S. Racine
RACINE, Margaret S. 01/01b
25 Apr 1916 - no date
ss/w Frederick P. Racine
LIERZ, Donald A. 01/02a
05 Feb 1936 - 02 Aug 1994
ss/w Delores A. Ahner Lierz
LIERZ, Delores A. Ahner 01/02b
12 Sep 1933 - no date
ss/w Donald A. Lierz
ZILLMAN, Sue Wright 01/03a
1919 - 1996
ss/w Billy M. Zillman
ZILLMAN, Billy M. 01/03b
1918 - no date
ss/w Sue Wright Zillman
GODFREY, Dorothy J. Robertson 01/04
16 Nov 1917 - 08 Sep 1994
Mother & Grandmother
RAJALA, Olavi Otto 01/05a
19 May 1922 - 05 Oct 1994
ss/w Dannie Jean Rajala
USN WWII
RAJALA, Dannie Jean 01/05b
27 Jul 1921 - no date
ss/w Olavi Otto Rajala
SCOTT, James White 01/06
1926 - 1995
GEGENSCHAZ, Dorothy Helen 01/07
24 Sep 1940 - 25 May 1994
"Penny"
LUNDY, Wiley Dean 01/08a
19 Oct 1932 - 05 Jul 1994
ss/w Marjorie Geginschatz Lundy;
"Kermit & Miss Piggy"
LUNDY, Marjorie Geginschatz 01/08b
20 May 1939 - no date
ss/w Wiley Dean Lundy
JOHNSON, Orville O. 01/09a
02 Oct 1916 - 06 Oct 1993
ss/w Jean M. Johnson
JOHNSON, Jean M. 01/09b
15 Dec 1919 - no date
ss/w Orville O. Johnson
MAGEE, Dorothy Ellen 01/10a
1921 - no date
ss/w Lawrence Robert Magee
MAGEE, Lawrence Robert 01/10b
1922 - 1995
ss/w Dorothy Ellen Magee
RHUE, Mary C. 01/11
04 Dec 1921 - 02 Feb 2000
Amos funeral home metal marker
Road, no graves from road to N Fence 01/99
ROW 2
South Fence 02/00
WHITE, Richard Howard 02/01
22 Feb 1956 - 16 Jun 1991
Beloved Son
GLASS, Albert G. 02/02
1926 - 1990
Beloved Husband & Father
double stone; no spouse engraved
SHANKS, Madeine 02/03a
16 Sep 1915 - no date
ss/w Eugene Shanks
SHANKS, Eugene 02/03b
30 Jun 1916 - 28 Mar 1990
ss/w Madeline Shanks
OBERTINO, James R. 02/04a
14 Sep 1915 - 31 Dec 1991
ss/w Mary E. Obertino
Father
OBERTINO, Mary E. 02/04b
02 Jun 1918 - no date
ss/w James R. Obertino
Mother
GRAHAM, William B. 02/05a
20 Nov 1920 - no date
ss/w Jean M. Graham
GRAHAM, Jean M. 02/05b
09 May 1930 - no date
ss/w William B. Graham
STARK, Robert Earl 02/06a
10 Aug 1925 - 04 Feb 1996
ss/w Mary Bovaird Stark
STARK, Mary Bovaird 02/06b
10 Aug 1927 - no date
ss/w Robert Earl Stark
WOFFORD, Ernest Wesley 02/07
1923 - 1982
LENTZ, J. W. 02/08
1913 - 1989
Msgt USA WWII
LENTZ, Mary Simmons 02/09
1917 - no date
CARNAHAN, Michael 02/10
no dates
bronze plaque missing or
not installed on stone
BARTON, Robert 02/11
20 Aug 1936 - 30 Jan 1992
Road 02/12
LAYTON, Doris Loraine 02/13
18 Jan 1926 - 10 Jul 1993
"Sugar"
STOVER, Earl Everett 02/14a
25 Oct 1915 - 24 Jun 1994
ss/w H. Mardu Stover
STOVER, H. Mardu 02/14b
15 Mar 1922 - 03 Aug 1994
ss/w Earl Everett Stover
"Dudie"
CROCKETT, Annie Marie 02/15
10 Jul 1916 - 17 Feb 1994
RILLER, Lowell Edwards MD 02/16a
04 Oct 1906 - 04 Sep 1995
ss/w Velma Fitzsimmons Riller
RILLER, Velma Fitzsimmons 02/16b
23 Jan 1904 - 15 Aug 1993
ss/w Lowell Edwards MD
md 20 Jun 1936
UNKNOWN, no marker 02/17
no dates -
new grave Aug 2000; no marker
NIKOLAYEVNA, Novichkova Zhanna 02/18
1946 - 1995
To my Mom and Friend with love --
I miss you very much -- Sasha
(written in Russian)
Translation was needed for this strikingly beautiful marker, which kindly was done by Vladimir Gurov. The corner markers for
the plot are also Cyrillic and encompass Lowell and Velma
Riller, Novichkova Nikolayevna, Patricia Gier, and the
newest grave next to Novichkova, which is not yet marked.
GIER, Patricia J. 02/19
27 Jun 1949 - 28 Aug 1998
North Fence 02/99
ROW 3
South Fence 03/00
WENDT, Roy L. 03/01a
1917 - 2000
ss/w Dolly M. Wendt
WENDT, Dolly M. 03/01b
1922 - no date
ss/w Roy L. Wendt
TILLOTSON, Norma J. 03/02
30 Jun 1921 - 06 Apr 1994
SMITH, Unknown 03/03a
only engraving; no dates -
2 doves on top
at foot of Delores Smith
SMITH, Delores 03/03b
1929 - 1990 - "Lindy"
HARRIS, Charles R. 03/04a
07 Jun 1927 - 12 May 1990
ss/w Vada Sue Harris
USA WWII (military marker at foot)
HARRIS, Vada Sue 03/04b
10 Mar 1933 - no date
ss/w Charles R. Harris
WHEELER, Lawrence S. Sr. 03/05a
1917 - 1997
ss/w Dorothy C. Wheeler
md 11 Feb 1939
WHEELER, Dorothy C. 03/05b
1917 - no date;
ss/w Lawrence S. Wheeler Sr.
Road 03/06
HARMON, Phyllis D. 03/07
15 Jun 1928 - 02 Jan 1977
HAXTON, Arlyn D. 03/08a
07 Dec 1934 - 26 Mar 1992
ss/w Marcia L. Haxton
HAXTON, Marcia L. 03/08b
20 Sep 1935 - no date
ss/w Arlyn D. Haxton
FIUZAT, Yahya 03/09
12 Mar 1925 - 28 Sep 1992
North Fence 03/99
ROW 4
South Fence 04/00
HOLZER, only engraving 04/01a
no dates - large marker
HOLZER, Malcolm Albert 04/01b
12 May 1907 - 20 Jan 1987
ss/w Lucille Downing Holzer
at foot of large Holzer marker
HOLZER, Lucille Downing 04/01c
04 Mar 1909 - 12 Jun 1993
ss/w Malcolm Albert Holzer
at foot of large Holzer marker
REES, Janice Elizabeth 04/02
21 May 1982 - 24 Jun 1982
"An angel kissed her and she slept"
O'BRIEN, Robert W. 04/03a
10 Nov 1922 - 16 Sep 1994
ss/w Nancy C. O'Brien
1Sgt USA Air Corps WWII
O'BRIEN, Nancy C. 04/03b
05 Dec 1934 - no date
ss/w Robert W. O'Brien
WAID, John Bricker 04/04a
24 Feb 1915 - 28 Jan 1989
ss/w Maribelle McClelland Waid
WAID, Maribelle McClelland 04/04b
17 Jun 1917 - no date
ss/w John Bricker Waid
GILBERT, Robert Thomas 04/05a
1924 - 1986
ss/w Elma June Gilbert
GILBERT, Elma June 04/05b
1923 - no date
ss/w Robert Thomas Gilbert
HENDRICKSON, Theodore D. 04/06a
1903 - 1987
ss/w Corinne L. Hendrickson
HENDRICKSON, Corinne L. 04/06b
1911 - no date
ss/w Theodore D. Hendrickson
McLEESE, William V. 04/07
18 Jun 1916 - 18 Jun 1992
SSgt USA WWII
McLEESE, Kathleen Hildebrand 04/08
17 May 1921 - 18 Sep 1988
LEA, John 04/09
26 Sep 1929 - 26 Dec 1987
"Maranatha"
SMITH, Wilson E. Sr. 04/10a
30 Jun 1921 - 29 Aug 1998
ss/w Willetta M. Smith;
md 11 Oct 1946
PFC USMC WWII (separate military marker)
SMITH, Willetta M. 04/10b
06 Nov 1925 - no date
ss/w Wilson E. Smith Sr.
BORNKESSEL, Richard Henry 04/11a
1916 - 1994
ss/w Mary Jane Bornkessel
md 08 Aug 1942
BORNKESSEL, Mary Jane 04/11b
1918 - no date
ss/w Richard Henry Bornkessel
Road 04/12
MAGGARD, Patricia Colleen Tiernam 04/13
02 Oct 1963 - 08 Aug 1991
BALE, Mildred Jean 04/14
14 Jul 1923 - 04 Jun 1990
Mother
MAHALE, Connie L. 04/15
30 Mar 1922 - 16 Oct 1991
YE, Richard Cheng 04/16
08 Oct 1920 - 05 Aug 1991
UNKNOWN, no marker 04/17
no dates - cross & flowers
SIEBERT, L. Jane 04/18a
1924 - no date
ss/w Lee S. Siebert
SIEBERT, Lee S. 04/18b
1913 - 1999
ss/w L. Jane Siebert
North Fence 04/99
ROW 5
South Fence 05/00
HEDGES, Claude E. 05/01a
1901 - 1975
ss/w Marie F. Hedges
HEDGES, Marie F. 05/01b
1902 - 1991
ss/w Claude E. Hedges
ANDERSON, Harley L. 05/02
1919 - 1999
D W Newcomer's Sons metal marker
ANDERSON, Geneva A. 05/03
1929 - 2000
new grave Aug 2000
STOLL, Robert 05/04a
1930 - 1987
ss/w Mary Stoll
STOLL, Mary 05/04b
1929 - no date
ss/w Robert E. Stoll
FAGERBERG, Evert C. 05/05a
18 Mar 1909 - no date
ss/w Virginia R. Fagerberg
md 17 Sep 1938
FAGERBERG, Virginia R. 05/05b
07 Dec 1912 - 24 Jun 1989
ss/w Evert C. Fagerberg
MAJURE, Betty Lou Tucker 05/06
21 Oct 1922 - 15 May 1990
VAUGHTERS, Margaret Christine 05/07
20 Apr 1985 - 20 Apr 1985
"Our Sweet Peggy"
CHAMBERS, Marion G. 05/08a
1902 - 1986
ss/w Laura H. Chambers
CHAMBERS, Laura H. 05/08b
1903 - no date
ss/w Marion G. Chambers
GREENWOOD, Connie E. 05/09a
1930 - 1989
ss/w Betty M. Greenwood
Shriners emblem
GREENWOOD, Betty M. 05/09b
1926 - no date
ss/w Connie E. Greenwood
HAFFNER, Gary E. 05/10
8 Dec 1941 - 11 May 1987
A2C USAF Vietnam
double stone, only name
regular & military marker
JOHNSON, Burton F. 05/11
1900 - 1984
Father
CHAPMAN, only engraving 05/12a
only engraving
large marker
CHAPMAN, George Donald 05/12b
1921 - 1986
ss/w Evelyn Maxine Chapman
at foot of large Chapman marker
CHAPMAN, Evelyn Maxine 05/12c
1921 - 1994
ss/w George Donald Chapman
at foot of large Chapman marker
PASQUIER-SUZUKI, Denise 05/13
1930 - 1985
Road 05/14
BANISTER, Jeff W. 05/15a
1908 - 1990
ss/w Vernabelle Banister
BANISTER, Vernabelle 05/15b
1918 - no date
ss/w Jeff W. Banister
LEIGHTON, Martha Esten 05/16
17 Aug 1941 - 13 Mar 1990
PRATT, Warren 05/17a
1914 - no date
ss/w Shirlee Marie Pratt
PRATT, Shirlee Marie 05/17b
1922 - 1992
ss/w Warren Pratt
TRUITT, only engraving 05/18a
no dates
TRUITT, Charles A. 05/18b
24 Mar 1911 - 17 Aug 1992
"Bopie"
MILLER, Mary E. (Kelly) McNamara 05/19
05 Dec 1915 - no date
North Fence 05/99
ROW 6
South Fence 06/00
HOFFMAN, Charles Edward 06/01
30 Jan 1996 - 21 Feb 1997
"Our Dear Teddy"
This is obviously a much-loved and tenderly missed child. On each visit to the cemetery, the toys and ornaments seemed to have been replaced or rearranged. The balloons never flagged, but waved gaily for "Dear Teddy."
Road 06/02
SCHWARTZ, James Gerard 06/03
21 May 1961 - 17 Jul 1992
REUSSNER, only engraving 06/04
no dates -
REUSSNER, Leuder A. 06/05
21 Dec 1903 - 16 Dec 1990
near large Reussner marker
GUNN, Richard L. 06/06a
18 Mar 1932 - no date
ss/w Velva J. Gunn
GUNN, Velva J. 06/06b
22 Jul 1933 - 18 Jul 1993
ss/w Richard L. Gunn
RONNING, only engraving 06/07a
no dates -
RONNING, Michael James 06/07b
18 Oct 1991 - 19 Oct 1991
Our Son
at foot of large Ronning marker
RONNING, Henry O. 06/07c
16 Jan 1899 - 30 Jan 1992
Beloved Husband & Father
at foot of large Ronning marker
RONNING, Almeda E. 06/07d
27 Dec 1904 - 20 Feb 1998
She Nurtured Us With Love & Grace
at foot of large Ronning marker
RONNING, no names 06/08
no dates - bench
UNKNOWN, no marker 06/09
no dates -
grave decorated with plants & large sea shell
North Fence 06/99
ROW 7
South Fence 07/00
BECKER, Alice G. 07/01
13 Nov 1918 - 09 Aug 1982
BECKER, Harry R. 07/02
09 Jun 1917 - 01 Aug 1995
TSgt USA WWII
BAIRD, Arla M. 07/03
12 Feb 1921 - no date
SMITH, Barbara I. 07/04
25 Mar 1939 - 24 Feb 1984
Mother
McFADDIN, Arnett 07/05
01 Nov 1915 - 30 Aug 1980
Lt USN
MAYO, Jack A. 07/06a
1917 - 1990