Ted William Worthington

Ted William Worthington, 78, of Tecumseh, passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at a Topeka hospital. He was born April 10, 1936 in Lecompton, the son of Charles and Rosa Grindol Worthington. He graduated from Berryton High School in 1954.

Ted played American Legion Baseball and in the Ban Johnson League prior to being drafted by the New York Yankees. He played his minor league baseball in Oklahoma. He continued to be active in sports by coaching youth baseball and officiating Kansas High School football and basketball. Ted was a member of Albert-Neese Masonic Lodge No. 248 AF & AM, served as Master for the Watson Grange and a member of the Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church. He was employed by the Santa Fe Railway over 30 years. He then became a bus driver for the Shawnee Heights USD 450 school district. He later went to work as a courtesy driver for Briggs Dodge dealership.

Ted married Joyce E. Rainey on September 25, 1955 at the Berryton E.U.B. Church. She preceded him in death on June 6, 2014. He was also preceded in death by one son, Craig Worthington on January 15, 2014. Survivors include one daughter, Lauri Dee Sloop of Lenexa, one son, Garry Lynn Worthington of Olathe, his grandchildren, Mackenzie Rae and Austin William Neeley, Christopher Brian and Jennifer Lynn Worthington and his brother, Eugene Worthington of Tecumseh.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 14, 2014 at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. Burial will follow in Topeka Cemetery. Ted will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2014 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the American Heart Association, PO Box 1653, Topeka, KS 66601 or to Albert-Neese Masonic Lodge No. 248 AF & AM c/o Greg Albert, 676 N. 1550 Rd., Lawrence, KS 66049.