Alfonso William Dabney, Sr.

Alfonso William Dabney Sr. of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2022. He was 90 years old and a resident of Topeka, Kansas for many years. He was happily married to Esther Elisabeth Mize Dabney since 1959 (deceased), the father of seven children; Leanna Avis (Overland Park, KS), Alfonso Jr. (Kansas City, MO), Brenda Patterson (Richard) (Topeka, KS), Linda Dabney (Topeka, KS), Keith Dabney (Topeka, KS), Gerry Dabney (UT), and Lavonne McFadden (Overland Park, KS). He had a host of grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and family and friends.

He enjoyed family and seeing his children grow up to be strong, healthy, vibrant adults raising families of their own. He very much enjoyed growing up in the country and appreciated all that the country life had to offer. His fond memories were, as a younger man, learning how to drive a tractor between thirteen and fifteen years of age. He was asked how fast he drove it and he responded as fast as it would let me go. He said he remembered the first time his mother brought him his very first suit as a young man. "It was a sky blue suit and she said I looked good and it felt good also. No one could tell me I didn't look handsome. I went out on a date that evening and remembered my first kiss from a young lady. Her name was Joyce Reese."

"Then there was the time I told my grandmother to watch out for that goat. She was in the garden picking weeds and that goat was young and frisky. However, grandmother was so focused on the garden that she didn't hear what I said about the goat. She bent over, and to much surprise she found herself face down in the dirt. When she did rise up her glasses were cockeyed on her face and she didn't know what happened, until she finally focused and realized it was that darn goat looking right at her. I couldn't hold my laughter – it was so funny I was busting out at the seams. Every time I thought of that time or told the children, I remembered that day like the day it happened. That always made me laugh."

He enjoyed working as an auto mechanic. He was the type of mechanic that when he heard a noise, he could pretty much tell you what was going on with your vehicle and then fix it. He also said he remembered seasoning the meats for his mother when she was cooking. He told us that grandmother said he had a knack for flavoring meats. And yes, we as healthy eating children very much got spoiled with our father's amazing cooking and so did many other people – he was blessed to touch their lives as well.

As a young man, he wasn't able to finish school due to the era when young men had to help on the farm due to circumstances. He ploughed the fields for the harvest, took care of the livestock and tended to the chores around the farm until he went off to the military and enlisted in the Marine Corps. He spent six years in the military where he was a Marine sergeant and a cook. He told us that he enjoyed cooking then as well. He also did a little boxing while stationed in the military – he always had a few stories about that. He participated in the American Legion for a short period of time, enjoyed bowling, playing the piano and organ, fishing, watching his daughters the twins play ball when he had some leisure time, and enjoyed time with all of his children when he was younger. He would sit on the porch and watch us play with the neighborhood children under the street light by our home; after a long day at work.

He had his own hauling service for quite some time and his children were his supporting crew. He was employed by Santa Fe at the general office where he was a mail clerk for 34 years of service. He also had his own cleaning service where his children played the supporting role as well.

As a man of God, Alfonso served as a deacon for many years at the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ. He also enjoyed singing, as he sang in the choir as well. He was the type of man that if he saw someone that needed help or assistance with something it wasn't beneath him to stop and give assistance. He was well respected because of the character of man he was and the character he upheld. He would always say, "You have to give respect to get respect. Treat people the way you want to be treated."

Alfonso was preceded in death by his parents Helen (1911 – 2008) and Edwin (1966) Dabney; brothers Keith and August (2020); and his wives Esther Dabney, Betty Lee Dabney, Geneva Robinson Dabney, and Joyce Holland Dabney.

His children will host a celebration of Alfonso's life on Saturday, January 7th at 12:00 p.m. in Topeka, Kansas, at Dove Cremations and Funerals Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road.

Dove Cremations and Funerals Southwest Chapel will be assisting the family.

Alfonso's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.

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