Cecil H. Fitzgeralds

Obituary for Cecil Fitzgeralds

Cecil H. Fitzgeralds, age 91, of Herington, entered his heavenly home on January 8, 2020, at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born on February 7, 1928, at Lamoni, Iowa, the son of Theodore Roosevelt and Mildred Faye (Banks) Fitzgeralds.   During the depression he traveled with his dad picking fruit.  They would send the money home to his mother to pay living expenses.  He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II in the Phillipine Islands, as a Seaman First Class.

Cecil married Judith (Judy) Higginbothan on June 8, 1956. They were the parents of Colleen, Cecil, Jr., Michael, David, Lori, and Keith. The family moved to Herington in 1964. He was a mechanic and liked working on motor vehicles.  He was a race car driver but had to give it up to provide for the family.  Cecil had his own service and operated the Champion Gas Station.  Later on he worked for Tatge’s and Timm’s Conoco Service.  During retirement he worked for BC Motors and became a gardener known for his tomatoes.  Volunteered more than thirty years for the Herington Fire Department and rode horse back in the reserve sheriff posse for Dickinson County.  He was in the local movie, Thirty-Fourth Star.  He was a member of the VFW-Herington, and supported the National World War II Museum.

Preceded in death by wife, Judy, on February 27, 2010; daughter, Colleen Chastain; and his parents. Survived by his four sons, Cecil Fitzgerald, Jr. of Abilene, Michael Fitzgeralds (Jeannine) of Toney, Alabama, David Fitzgeralds (Sheila) of Inman, Keith Fitzgeralds (Hilary) of Wichita; one daughter, Lori Keeler (Barry) of Wichita; sister, Hazel Pyle (Mitchell “Bud”) of El Dorado;and friend, Mike Herbel, who he considered as family; fourteen grandchildren; and 8 great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at the Rock Island Church of Herington, on Monday, January 13, 2020, at 2:00pm with Pastor Deb Wiles, officiating.  Burial will follow at the Sunset Hill Cemetery with military rites.  Family will receive friends at the church, Monday, January 13, 2020, from 1:00-1:45pm. 

Memorial gifts may be given to the Rock Island Church:  and may be sent in care of Yazel-Megli- Zeiner Funeral Home, 404 S Broadway, Herington, KS, 67449.