Guy Deal Bolen, 89, died Sunday, November 7, 2021, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS after being in critical care following a fall.
He was born April 27, 1932, at a farm in southeast Wallace County, the son of Lester and Georgia (Huffman) Bolen. He attended and graduated from Prairie View (Kahle) Grade School. He then attended Wallace County Community High School for a short period of time. Guy held numerous jobs in the area eventually settling on the job he started at age 10, farming. Guy was known as a master welder and was always looking for ways to fix things.
On June 8, 1952, Guy and Marlene J. Barton were married. They lived in the Harrison Flats area of Wallace County all of their married life except for nine months when they lived in Denver CO.
Guy was a lifelong member of the Dinas Community Church and was chairman of the building committee when the new Dinas church was built. At the time of his death, he was still taking care of the building. He was part of the reenactment with the Fort Wallace 7th Calvary Unit. He served as a board member of the Farm Home Administration. Guy and Marlene helped open up the American Agriculture Movement office in Wallace County and traveled to Washington D.C. to help fight for parity. Other memberships included: NRA, Farm Bureau, and Wallace County Cruisers. He lived his life as a strong Christian. Although he could not serve in the military due to a childhood knee injury, he supported the military troops and was always proud of his country.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his father and mother-in-law, Emery and Pauline Barton, his sisters: Betty Bender and husband Edward, Bonnie Knouse Barton and husbands; Delmar Knouse and Tom Barton, brothers: Keith Bolen and wife Frances, and Bill Bolen and his son-in-law and farming partner, Gary Cox.
Surviving family includes his wife of 69½ years, Marlene Joy (Barton) Bolen. Son Bryan (Edna) Bolen of Sharon Springs, KS and their children; Bryan Daniel Bolen, Kimberly (Craig) Hoisington, Melissa (Todd) Thompson, Miranda (Lance) Cloyd, and Brandon Bolen. Son Bruce (Emily) Bolen of Sharon Springs, KS and their children; Lester (Kinsey) Bolen and Tamela (Jed) Lake. Daughter Belinda Cox, Wallace KS and sons: Ryan (Heidi) Cox, Braden (Kaylee) Cox, and Joel Cox. Nineteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. One sister, Marie and her husband Gary Walker of Marysville TN and one sister-in-law, Marlene C. Bolen of Sharon Springs and many nephews and nieces.
Marlene was the love of his life. They loved having family and friends in their home on the farm. His favorite hobbies included restoring old vehicles, tractors, and anything antique. He loved to give children rides on whatever he restored. He loved Christian and Country Western music. He also loved fishing and camping. Guy and Marlene loved spending time with long time friends Ted and Ada Turley and family. Ted preceded Guy in death.
Guy was very proud of the family farm, and he and Marlene were the 4th generation caretakers of this section of God’s earth. His pride and joy was the 100 plus year old barn that is the focal point of many pictures. They were very pleased when daughter Belinda and her husband Gary became the 5th generation and grandson Braden and his wife and children became the 6th & 7th generations. He will be missed by everyone, but is now walking with Christ on two good legs and maybe even riding a bike!
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at 10:30 AM MT at the Sharon Springs United Methodist Church with Reverend Paul McNall and Pastor Galen Crippen officiating. Burial will follow in the Dinas Community Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.