Edwin Riffel

WICHITA — H. Edwin Riffel, 79, was born Dec. 7, 1934, in Herington, Kan., to John Henry and Marie Katherine (Meier) Riffel.

Ed graduated from Herington High School in 1952. After attending Ottawa University for two years, Ed joined the U.S. Air Force in 1954.

He married Carol Krispense on Dec. 27, 1958. Having graduated from Friends University in 1971, Ed worked as an accountant for Beechcraft until 1987. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force and later joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve, faithfully serving his country until his retirement in 1993.

He passed away March 17, 2014, at his residence.

Ed is preceded by his parents, John Henry and Katherine Marie Riffel; his wife, Carol Jean Krispense Riffel; and two brothers, Laurence and Kenneth.

He is survived by his three children, David Riffel (Sandy) of Wichita, Christine Herbel (DeLayne) of Lehigh, and Karen Baliel (David) of Marion; a brother, Arnold Riffel of Camarillo, Calif.; six grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

Services were held Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the Meridian Avenue Baptist Church in Wichita. Interment with military rites was held at the Strassburg Cemetery, Marion.

A memorial fund has been established for Golden Wheat Chapter — AHSGR (American Historical Society of Germans from Russia) in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Marion, KS 66861.