William “Bill” A. Sexton, 90, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 27, 2019 at Garten Countryside Home. He was born August 12, 1928 at the family farm in northern Dickinson County. Bill was the son of Ernest and Naomi (Baldwin) Sexton. He graduated from Abilene High School with the class of 1946.
Bill was a lifetime resident of Dickinson County where he dairy farmed. Bill married Kathryn Fouse on July 27, 1949. They had 5 children, Leanna (Hector) Garcia, of Prince George, Virginia; Lynette (Chuck) Shrader of Abilene; Daniel (Keiko) Sexton, with OMS in Japan; Warren (Mitzi) Sexton of Salina; Marilyn (Steve) Mason, of Goshen, Indiana.
His wife Kathryn preceded him in death in 1981. Bill married Darlene Reed Brehm on May 23, 1982 to which he added her 3 sons to his family. Dale and Patty Brehm of Overland Park; Russ and Pat Brehm of Woodbine; Doug and Sharon Brehm of Topeka.
Bill is survived by his wife Darlene, children, step children, sister Gladys Olson, sister-in-law Sally (Dwayne) Margritz, 20 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Grice and Jack, and his grandson, Gregory M. Garcia.
After dairy farming in the Buckeye community for 30 plus years, Bill moved to Woodbine where he sold, installed, and serviced milking and computer feeding equipment throughout Kansas and Nebraska for 33 years. Bill had a lifelong love of welding and using his creativity with metal. Many of his welding projects can be seen at churches, cemeteries, and playgrounds throughout Dickinson County. His unique motorized entries in parades were enjoyed by many over the years in Abilene, Chapman, Hope, and Herington.
At age 72, Bill began to serve the Hope United Methodist Church as a Lay Pastor for 11 years, fulfilling a lifelong dream of serving the church.
Bill and wife Darlene moved to Abilene in 2010. At age 86, unable to weld any longer, Bill taught himself to sew and found a new hobby of piecing quilts together. He has made 20 hospice quilts and many, many more for his family and friends.
Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Abilene where he attended the Crusaders Sunday School class. He was a member of the End of the Trail Quilt Guild, the Dickinson County Historical Society, and an avid reader of books from the public library.
The family suggests memorials be given to the Abilene Public Library, Dickinson County Historical Society or Memorial Health Foundation for Senior Life Solutions designated in memory of Bill Sexton.