William Francis Edward Dean was born on April 26, 1931, the only child of William T. Dean and Bernice Miller Dean in Colby, Ks. He passed away on March 19, 2024 in Norton, Kansas at the age of 92. At the age of 18 months, he went to live with Wendell and Daisy Sites and was raised by them as their own.
Ed, as he was known to all of his friends and family, started working at a young age in the grocery business as a carry-out boy. He spent his entire life working, managing, and owning grocery stores. He married Joyce Harper on May 4, 1952 in Colby, Kansas. They had three daughters, Valerie, Vickie, and Velda. Ed and Joyce celebrated 71 years of marriage last May before Joyce passed away in September.
Ed had an accident at the age of 30 and lost his right hand in a meat grinder. With a lot of grit and hard work he overcame his handicap and continued to support his family and provided a wonderful and loving life for them. He loved working in the grocery business and had a strong work ethic that he taught to his family. Ed took much pride in having a clean grocery store, and you could always find him at the produce counter cleaning his produce and peeling onions. And if he had any spare time, you would find him dusting and facing the shelves. He wasn’t one to sit around and do nothing, he always had something going. Ed took such pride in his grandkids and great grandkids and loved attending their activities and supporting them. He was an avid KU Jayhawks fan. When there was a KU basketball game on, you could rest assured that he was listening or watching it. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joyce, and sisters and brothers-in-law. He is survived by his daughters: Valerie and Ed Poe of Sharon Springs, KS, Vickie and Mike Bailey of Jennings, KS, and Velda and Dennis Billenwillms of Canadian, TX; 9 grandchildren: Chad (Jessica) Poe of Great Bend, KS, Courtney Poe of Colby, KS, Eric (Brodie) Poe of Sharon Springs, KS, Erin (Gabe Horinek) Shively of Atwood, KS, Missy (Jamie) Amlong of Norton, KS, Colin (Lindsey) Bailey of Norton, KS, Grant (McKenzie) Bailey of Norton, KS, Jarrod (Valorie) Billenwillms of Perryton, TX and Justin (Gina) Billenwillms of Oklahoma City, OK; 24 great grandchildren: Jade and Carson Poe, Dally, Tye, Ketch, and Keiper Poe, Kaytelynn Shively, Lucas and Hunter Horinek, Cole (Shelby), Braden, and Nathan Amlong, Weston and Ward Hayes, Hannah (Mason) Urban, Cooper, Payton, and Carter Bailey, Jace and Kacen Bailey, Myrranda (Matthew) Lamm, Shaune, Seth, and Piper Billenwillms and great-great grandson, Dawson Amlong.
Memorial services will be held 10:00 am Friday, April 5, 2024 at the Jennings United Methodist Church. Inurnment will follow in the Jennings Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Jennings United Methodist Church, or Andbe Home and sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumergobber.com