Patricia Sue Converse

Patricia Sue (Warnick) Converse, 93, longtime resident of Eskridge, KS, passed away November 16, 2022, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  She was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 4, 1929, the oldest of two daughters, to Lester Wayne and Claudia Francis Self Warnick.  She attended schools in Kansas City and graduated from Wyandotte High School in May 1947.

In the fall of 1948, Patty entered Kansas State College in Manhattan. While at K-State, she was a cheerleader and a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. It was at K-State where Patty met her future husband, Verne Warren Converse, who was a K-State football player.  He convinced her to leave college and join him at the family ranch in Eskridge.  They were married on April 2, 1950 and remained there until his death in 2008.  They had two children, Merle Wayne and Cynthia Sue.

Patty loved ranch life and dedicated herself to helping Verne and raising their family.  As a Red Cross Certified Lifeguard/Swimming Instructor, she taught swimming lessons at Lake Wabaunsee for many years.  She was also a certified SCUBA diver.

While her children were in school, Patty became active in the local Parent Teachers Association (PTA) in the Eskridge school system.  She went on to serve the Kansas Congress of Parents and Teachers as first vice president from 1963-1965 and as the state president from 1966-1968.  She later served as a school board member for USD 330.

After losing her father to a massive heart attack, Patty became involved with the American Heart Association at the grass roots level.  She started as a volunteer in 1967 as county chairman in Wabaunsee County.  She joined the affiliate board of directors in 1973 and served as chairperson of the board from 1977-1980.  Patty served on numerous affiliate committees, on the affiliate board and executive committee until 1993.  In 1994, Patty received the American Heart Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication and committed volunteer service to the organization.

As Patty left K-State before graduating, she was determined to finish her college degree. She ultimately completed her B.S. in Physical Education from Kansas State University in December, 1973.

Patty and Verne loved K-State sports, and were football season ticket holders for over 50 years.  They were life members of the Kansas State University Alumni Association, members in the Ahearn Fund, and the Flint Hills Catbackers.

Patty was a member of the First Methodist Church in Eskridge were for years.  She was a member of the choir, was active in the United Methodist Women (UMW) and church Circle.  She was also a member of PEO Chapter ES in Emporia.  As Patty was an avid golf and tennis player, she and Verne were longtime members of the Emporia Country Club.  They were also members of the Eskridge Town & Country Bridge Club.

Patty loved Eskridge and the ranch, but after being diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, she moved in with Wayne and Val in the fall of 2011, and into an apartment at Meadowlark Hills senior living facility in Manhattan in the spring of 2012.  In December of 2014, Patty moved to Brookdale Tahlequah Heritage to be close to Cindy and family in Oklahoma where she resided until her death.

Patty was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband Verne and a sister Dixie Lee Wingate.  She is survived by her son Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Wayne (Valeria) Converse of Manhattan, daughter Cindy (Steve) Ullom of Tahlequah, OK, six grandchildren:  Michael (Stephanie) Converse, Wichita, KS; Brandon (Tara) Converse, Andover, KS; Lindsey (Kody) Winterscheidt, Topeka, KS; Jessica Ullom, Austin, TX; Allison (Nick) Mahoney, Tahlequah, OK; and Ryan (Audra) Ullom of Shawnee, KS; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Services will be Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Eskridge Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Patty to the American Heart Association or the Alzheimer’s Association.  Contributions may be sent in care of the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, KS 66801.