Elvin M. Hamblin

Elvin M. Hamblin, 91 of Olathe, KS passed April 4, 2017, he was born June 15, 1925 in rural St. Clair County, Missouri to James and Mary Gertrude Hamblin.

His father was a farmer and they moved every two or three years to farm better land. Over the years he attended several rural schools like Shiloh, Bethelhem and Pretty Bob. His teacher at Shiloah school was Eloise Ahrens. She became his sister-in-law when she married his older brother, Estel. He was attending Deepwater Missouri High School when WWII broke out. His three older brothers were in the military – one in the Army, one in the Navy and one in the Army Air Corp. His mother did not want him to be drafted so she sent him to Olathe to work on her brother's farm. He worked for Uncle Clark Draper for one year. Then his friend, Cliff Toynbee, was called up to take his physical for the draft. Elvin decided to go and enlist with him. Cliff failed the physical and was sent home. Elvin passed and was sent to Fort Hood, Texas, for basic training. He was sent to Okinowa and was in heavy combat there. He was there when the A-bombs were dropped in Japan. After the war ended, he spent a year in South Korea in the Army of Occupation. He came home in September of 1946 and got a job driving a taxi in Olathe where he met Juanita. They were married June 28, 1947. He worked several jobs over the years – Hyer Book Company, Vita Craft Corporation, Railway Express, 7-Up truck driver and Standard Gas Station attendant. In 1969 the opportunity to go to work for the Olathe Water Plant came up and he worked there for the next 23 years retiring in 1989. He built a log cabin on the Lake of the Ozarks. He ordered a log cabin pre-cut from Durango, Colorado. He was so proud of that cabin. He and his best friend, Ed Colson, worked on the cabin as well as the Colson's cabin and they had a great time doing it.

He became a member of the 1st Methodist Church in the 1990's and always said he never volunteered for anything. The pastor questioned that statement because he was always doing something there. Elvin explained "I never have to volunteer, Juanita takes care of that and keeps me busy." His favorite hobby was keeping the lawn beautifully cared for and gardening. He was also a lifetime member of the Olathe Lion's Club.

He is survived by his wife Juanita, daughter Linda Hoffman, sons David and Marvin. Also surviving him are his eight grandchildren Cathe York, Becky Vaughn, Marida Cutler, Chad Hamblin, Trisha Stevenson, Natalie Morrison, Mathew Hamblin and Katie Hamblin, eleven great-grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren along with one sister, Pauline Ash of Clinton, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Gertie Hamblin, four brothers Leonard, Estel, Linville and Dennis and one sister Nadine.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 11485 S. Ridgeview Road, Olathe, KS 66061.

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