Thomas Kingsley

Thomas G. "Gail" Kingsley, 93, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at Lexington Park Nursing Facility, Topeka. He was born February 23, 1917 in Topeka to Hubert and May (Harrison) Kingsley. Upon graduating from Topeka High School in 1938, he worked at Morrell Packing Co. He was a member of the Santa Fe Band and graduated from a trade school as a machinist until enlisting in the United States Navy in 1942. He was stationed at Olathe, Kansas Naval Air Station and Miami, Florida Naval Station until his honorable discharge in 1945 as an Aviation Machinist 1st Class. During this time he married Ila Marie Winter of Dover, Kansas on June 17, 1943.

After WWII he started farming on the family farm while attending Kansas State College of Agriculture under the GI Bill. Gail operated a dairy herd for ten years, maintained a flock of sheep for 20 years and managed the local rural water district. He was a life-long conservationist and received a soil conservation award in 1964. He was an avid hunter/sportsman. Gail was a life member of the Capital City Gun Club of Topeka, Golden Rule Masonic Lodge of Topeka, American Legion Post 1 and Auburn UMC.

Gail is survived by his children, Thomas G. Kingsley, Jr. and wife Dianne of Topeka; Kathy Marie Studebaker (Kingsley) and husband John of Topeka; and Michael G. Kingsley and wife Gail of Wellsville, KS; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

His parents, brother, Hubert James Kingsley, and wife, Ila Kingsley, preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be Friday, March 26, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS 66610. Interment will follow at Auburn Cemetery. Gail will lie in state from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel. Friends and family will be received from 7- 8 p.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Kansas or the Capital City Gun Club in care of Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel.