Milton R. Bledsoe

Milton Richard Bledsoe, 77, of Washington, Kan., died February 15, 2019 at the Hanover Hospital. Visitation is Tuesday, February 19, from noon to 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 20, at Ward Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Washington City Cemetery. Milton was born January 10, 1942 in rural Washington county to Ernest “Bill” and Myrtie (Johnson) Bledsoe.  In 1959, he graduated from Greenleaf High School in Greenleaf, Kan.  He then went to work for the Kansas Department of Transportation. He worked for KDOT for 49 years, serving as supervisor for several years before his retirement on December 14, 2007. On April 15, 1961, he was united in marriage to Eileen VanWinkle.  She preceded him in death on August 24, 1970. On December 4, 1971, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Ouellette in Washington.  They recently celebrated 47 years of marriage. Milton devoted many years coaching baseball, softball, and bowling for local youth teams. He also was an avid fisherman and a skilled handyman. His greatest joys in life were his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Eileen; sister, Shirley Wiemers; and brother, Walter Bledsoe. Survivors include his wife Kathy; sons, Warren (Tina) Bledsoe, Silver Lake, Kan., Robert (Amy) Bledsoe, Hutchinson, Kan., and David (Amy) Bledsoe, Lyndon, Kan.; daughters, Margery (Larry) Wilhoite, Frankfort, Ky., and Kayleen (Shawn) Schaefer, Palmer, Kan.; grandchildren, Derek (Lynsey) Bledsoe, Kylie Bledsoe, Logan Bledsoe, Tara Bledsoe, Brittni (Jason) Oehmke, Shawn Jackson, Trent (Jordyn) Schaefer, Nathan Schaefer, Jace Schaefer, Austin Bledsoe, Chase Bledsoe, Hailey Bledsoe, Dalton (Zabrina) Hickey, Dylan Hickey and Courtney Hickey; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Oehmke, Dalton Oehmke, Cole Oehmke, Collin Bledsoe, Ryan Bledsoe, Brooklyn Schaefer, Zayden Hickey, Evan Hickey and Eli Jackson; sisters, Sharon Bruna, Hanover, Kan., Leila Justis, Greenleaf, Lenore (Roger) Samuelson, Ellsworth, Kan., and Linda (Kenny) Alexander, McPherson, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Milton R. Bledsoe, please visit our flower store.