Wanda Merlene Basinger

Wanda "Merlene" Basinger passed away on January 14, 2015 at Redlands, California at the age of 88. Merlene was born on Feb 25, 1926 at Wellington, Kansas. She was the daughter of John H. Walker and Edna Hurt Walker. She was married to Lewis Tobe Basinger on April 20, 1947 at the First Baptist Church. Merlene was employed by the First National Bank for 6 years as Bookkeeper and Asst. Teller. She was also employed by International Harvester as a Bookkeeper for 7 years and as Secretary at the Junior High School for 3 years and a bookkeeper for USD 353 at the Central Office for 20 years before retiring on July 1, 1988. Merlene was a member of the First Baptist Church since December 1935. She started playing the organ when a Freshman in High School. She directed the Senior Choir for a few years; then became church organist for some 50 years; was also Sunday School Secretary; served as church clerk two different times, then served as church clerk and treasurer for 10 years. The serenity Prayer was her favorite one. Merlene liked cooking, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles and watching sports on TV. She crocheted several afghans and doilies for her children, also she made one quilt for each child. Merlene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband "Tobe" in 2002; and one brother, John (Bob) and wife Barbara. She is survived by one son, Dr. Bradley Basinger of Redlands, California; one daughter, Brenda Bruster and her husband Alan; one grandson, Justin Bruster and his wife Alicia; two great grandchildren, Joslyn and Noah Bruster of Haysville Kansas; and one brother, Richard Walker and his wife Sharon of Wellington, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church, Wellington on January 30, at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Kurt Henson officiating. Interment will be in Prairie Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on January 29 from 1: 00 - 8:00 p.m. A memorial has been setup with the First Baptist Church. Contributions can be left at the funeral home.