William L. Farrar was born on January 26, 1933, in Carbondale, Kansas. He grew up in Lyndon, Kansas and attended the public school there, graduating as a member of the Lyndon High School Class of 1951. He went on to the University of Kansas and graduated in 1955 with a B.A. in Biology. While at KU, he lived in a Resident Scholarship Hall and was a member of the KU Band, now called the Marching Jayhawks. He earned a commission in the U.S. Air Force through the AFROTC program.
While at KU, he met Velma Louise Gaston of Kansas City, Kansas at a social event called the “hour dance”. They were married in 1954 and welcomed three children during their marriage – Michael W Farrar, MD; Vicki Farrar Thompson; and Karen Farrar English.
He entered active duty with the AF in October 1955, and started pilot school in Hondo, Texas. After graduation the following December, he began flying C-124 Globemaster as a crew member in the Strategic Air Command. He separated from active duty in 1961 and moved with his family to Kansas City, Missouri, where he began a career as an Investigator with the FDA, working in the KC District office for over 26 years.
During that time, he joined Avondale United Methodist Church as a member in 1962, and remained a member his entire life. In 1991, he assumed the duties of collecting the attendance and offerings for the Sunday school classrooms, which earned him, in name only, the title of “Sunday School Superintendent” for 20 years.
After leaving Air Force duty, and while working for the FDA, he became a member of the AF Reserve 442nd Wing at Richards-Gebaur AFB. He was an aircraft commander for C-124s, and later for C-130 Hercules when the wing converted to these. He ended this career as a Lieutenant Colonel, command pilot, and flight commander, and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal.
After retiring, he pursued many activities. He was a life member of the KU Alumni Association and Reserve Officers’ Association. He was one of the very first volunteers in the KCMO recycling program, receiving an honor from the mayor, and he was president of Chapter 2256, Kansas City North, of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees for five years. He began writing articles about aviation and had 25 works published through various outlets. The first were published as excerpts in a book about the C-124 Globemaster. Many more were published in magazines of the Philatelic Press, mostly concerning aviation subjects, and two more were in a British publication. Additionally, as an avid amateur photographer, many of his photos were shown on the “weather photo” feature of a local TV station. But perhaps one of the most cherished pastimes were his and Velma’s travels. Together they visited approximately 80 countries, many thanks to the AF travel. He personally visited another twelve or so – “some of them very forgettable”.
In 1988, he and Velma joined the Greater Kansas City People to People organization and sponsored International Officers who attended the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. For 20 years they sponsored officers and their families from all over the world, each year from a different country. William frequently retold stories about the “many fine and fascinating persons” in these countries and about making lifetime friends, many of which he and Velma later visited in their home countries. Many of these officers became generals in their armies, and William and Velma always felt partly responsible for giving each sponsoree a special feel for American life.
He was preceded in death by his spouse, Velma; his son, Michael; and grandchildren, Tim and Kelly Farrar.
He is survived by his daughters Vicki Thompson (Joe) and Karen English (Brad); grandchildren Kate Donaldson (Clint), Andrew Bischoff (Kelly), Joel Bischoff (Stephanie), Alex Beal (Sarah) and Jack Beal (Miranda); and six great grandchildren Norah, Graham, Tucker, Benjamin, Logan and Orval.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Avondale United Methodist Church or the Michael William Farrar Scholarship at the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
• Avondale United Methodist Church
• Michael Farrar Memorial Scholarship at the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine.
Memorial services will be held at Avondale United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 18th. The family will begin receiving visitors at 9:00 a.m. and the service with military honors will begin at 10:00 a.m.
DONATIONS
Avondale United Methodist Church3101 NE Winn Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64117
Michael Farrar Memorial ScholarshipUMKC School of Medicine, 2411 Holmes Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
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