Winnis A. Becker, 98, died May 12 at his home in Norman, Oklahoma. Born May 9, 1916, in Barton County, Kansas, he was the son of Albert L. and Edna Mae (Smith) Becker. On July 18, 1938, he married Evelyn Emma Guion in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She died on March 30, 2002. A longtime resident of Great Bend, moving to Norman, Oklahoma, in 2011, he was employed by Bayless Dry Cleaning when he was young. He attended Wichita School of Business and was employed by Southwestern Bell, Scheuffler Supply Company and American Parts Company as the accounts manager until he retired. He enjoyed playing golf and reading.
Mr. Becker served in the Army Air Force during World War II in Panama. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge #15, Blue Lodge, and American Legion Argonne Post 180, all of Great Bend.
He was preceded in death by one son, Gary Becker; and one daughter-in-law, Marilyn Becker. Survivors include his youngest son, Bob Becker of Norman, Okla.; grandchildren, Michael Becker and wife Amy and great-grandchildren, Maegan and Gabriel, of Katy, Texas, Jaime (Becker) and husband Chad Bagg; and great-grandchildren, Jonah, Canaan, Ethan and Chloē, of Norman, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law, Ruth Becker, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and grandchildren, Jeff Becker and wife Ronda, great-grandchildren, Emily, Ryan and Jenna, of Flower Mound, Texas, Mark Becker of New York, New York and Courtney (Becker) and husband Tim Stevens of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and great-grandchildren, Paige and Heidi.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Great Bend Cemetery with the Reverend Lennie Maxwell officiating. Visitation will be from noon to 9:00 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2014 with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church or St. Rose Foundation for the benefit of the Heartland Cancer Center, in care of the funeral home.