The memorial service for Elva Lee James Wayman will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 24, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, Emporia. Mrs. Wayman was cremated. A private family inurnment will be at Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Wayman passed away on Monday, August 17, 2015 at Emporia Presbyterian Manor. She was 92.
The daughter of Earl and Maude Hines James, she was born on December 24, 1922 in Clements, Kansas. She grew up in Cedar Point, Kansas and attended public schools. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College with a degree in Business Education and postgraduate studies. While in college, she was active in many organizations, including Student Council, Xi Phi, Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and worked as a bookkeeper at Emporia State Bank.
She married Charles William Wayman on September 4, 1943 in Riverside, California. He died on August 23, 2007 in Emporia. Her marriage to Mr. Wayman took place while he was serving in the U.S. Army. Within two months, Mr. Wayman was sent to Europe during World War II. It was almost three years before he returned. She was a “war bride.”
Mrs. Wayman taught business courses at Medicine Lodge High School as well as Latin at both Emporia High School and Emporia State University. From 1970 to 1983 she was part owner and manager of International Tours of Emporia. During this time she obtained the status of a Certified Travel Agent and became a lifetime member of the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. In 1976 she was featured in the Community Spotlight of The Emporia Gazette as the first Emporia woman to be appointed to the board of directors of an Emporia bank (Emporia State Bank & Trust Company.)
Mrs. Wayman was a member of the First United Methodist Church, UMW Wednesday Morning Circle, Eastern Star, American Society of Travel Agents, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, past president and 50-year member of Chapter D.I of P.E.O. and Fortune Study Club. Her past memberships include Social Service Club, Review Study Club, Golden Chain Circle Garden Club, Women’s Investment Club, Human Relations Board and Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader. She was Director Emeritus of ESB Financial and NAMYAW Corporation. She was also an affiliate member of the Valley Presbyterian Church of Green Valley, Arizona.
The Waymans' love for Emporia is shown in the charitable contributions made throughout the years. Upon the 90th anniversary of Emporia State Bank & Trust Company, the bank donated the funds to restore the bandstand at Fremont Park to its historically accurate state when it was originally built in 1901, the same year as the founding of the bank. Later in observance of the bank’s 100th anniversary, the eagle habitat was given to the Emporia Zoo.
Other community contributions by the bank and the Wayman family include the ESB Financial Media Center at Welch Stadium, the endowed Wayman Family Scholarship for Business Education at ESU and the Emporia State Bank & Trust endowed fund for ESU Foundation Scholarships. ESB is also proud to be the sponsor of the Emporia Farmers Market. In 2014 ESB Financial donated the Kiosk at the National Teachers Hall of Fame’s Fallen Teachers Memorial in honor of the James daughters who all attended Kansas State Teachers College and became teachers.
The Wayman's were honored by the Jayhawk Area Council Sojadi District as Distinguished Citizens in 2003.
Surviving family members include: sons, James Charles Wayman and his wife, Landace and William Harry Wayman both of Emporia; daughter, Karen Wayman Sommers of Emporia; twin sister, Melva Lee James Engers of Desert Hot Springs, California; grandchildren, Stanley “Trey” Oliver Sommers III of Emporia, Christopher Wayman Sommers and his wife, Cynthia, of Telluride, Colorado, Andrew Charles Wayman and his wife, Miranda of Emporia, and Matthew Logan Wayman of Emporia; great-grandchildren, Tyler James Sommers of Shawnee, Kansas, Jessica Danielle Sommers of Tonganoxie, Kansas, Lillian Grace Sommers and William Beck Sommers of Telluride, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her husband and sisters, Hortense James and Evelyn James Lutz.
Memorial contributions may be made to Emporia Friends of the Zoo or to the First United Methodist Church of Emporia, and sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elva Lee James Wayman, please visit our flower store.
Mrs. Wayman passed away on Monday, August 17, 2015 at Emporia Presbyterian Manor. She was 92.
The daughter of Earl and Maude Hines James, she was born on December 24, 1922 in Clements, Kansas. She grew up in Cedar Point, Kansas and attended public schools. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College with a degree in Business Education and postgraduate studies. While in college, she was active in many organizations, including Student Council, Xi Phi, Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and worked as a bookkeeper at Emporia State Bank.
She married Charles William Wayman on September 4, 1943 in Riverside, California. He died on August 23, 2007 in Emporia. Her marriage to Mr. Wayman took place while he was serving in the U.S. Army. Within two months, Mr. Wayman was sent to Europe during World War II. It was almost three years before he returned. She was a “war bride.”
Mrs. Wayman taught business courses at Medicine Lodge High School as well as Latin at both Emporia High School and Emporia State University. From 1970 to 1983 she was part owner and manager of International Tours of Emporia. During this time she obtained the status of a Certified Travel Agent and became a lifetime member of the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. In 1976 she was featured in the Community Spotlight of The Emporia Gazette as the first Emporia woman to be appointed to the board of directors of an Emporia bank (Emporia State Bank & Trust Company.)
Mrs. Wayman was a member of the First United Methodist Church, UMW Wednesday Morning Circle, Eastern Star, American Society of Travel Agents, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, past president and 50-year member of Chapter D.I of P.E.O. and Fortune Study Club. Her past memberships include Social Service Club, Review Study Club, Golden Chain Circle Garden Club, Women’s Investment Club, Human Relations Board and Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader. She was Director Emeritus of ESB Financial and NAMYAW Corporation. She was also an affiliate member of the Valley Presbyterian Church of Green Valley, Arizona.
The Waymans' love for Emporia is shown in the charitable contributions made throughout the years. Upon the 90th anniversary of Emporia State Bank & Trust Company, the bank donated the funds to restore the bandstand at Fremont Park to its historically accurate state when it was originally built in 1901, the same year as the founding of the bank. Later in observance of the bank’s 100th anniversary, the eagle habitat was given to the Emporia Zoo.
Other community contributions by the bank and the Wayman family include the ESB Financial Media Center at Welch Stadium, the endowed Wayman Family Scholarship for Business Education at ESU and the Emporia State Bank & Trust endowed fund for ESU Foundation Scholarships. ESB is also proud to be the sponsor of the Emporia Farmers Market. In 2014 ESB Financial donated the Kiosk at the National Teachers Hall of Fame’s Fallen Teachers Memorial in honor of the James daughters who all attended Kansas State Teachers College and became teachers.
The Wayman's were honored by the Jayhawk Area Council Sojadi District as Distinguished Citizens in 2003.
Surviving family members include: sons, James Charles Wayman and his wife, Landace and William Harry Wayman both of Emporia; daughter, Karen Wayman Sommers of Emporia; twin sister, Melva Lee James Engers of Desert Hot Springs, California; grandchildren, Stanley “Trey” Oliver Sommers III of Emporia, Christopher Wayman Sommers and his wife, Cynthia, of Telluride, Colorado, Andrew Charles Wayman and his wife, Miranda of Emporia, and Matthew Logan Wayman of Emporia; great-grandchildren, Tyler James Sommers of Shawnee, Kansas, Jessica Danielle Sommers of Tonganoxie, Kansas, Lillian Grace Sommers and William Beck Sommers of Telluride, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her husband and sisters, Hortense James and Evelyn James Lutz.
Memorial contributions may be made to Emporia Friends of the Zoo or to the First United Methodist Church of Emporia, and sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elva Lee James Wayman, please visit our flower store.
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