EFRA J. FROUNFELTER

Efra J. Frounfelter, 92, passed away Saturday March 30, after several weeks' illness. EJ and his wife Jean shared a home in the Morningview retirement community in Raymore, from 1993 until her passing in 2003, and he remained there until his illness January 11 of this year. He served on the residents' board, and they both enjoyed the Monday Bible study group they had joined soon after moving there. Prior to that, they lived in Ruskin Heights, surviving and rebuilding after the1957 tornado, and later in Hickman Mills' Stratford Estates. The family was members of the Hickman Mills Community Christian Church, where EJ served as a Deacon and a Board Member.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jean, and by a grandson Erik Bryant, 4, of Tacoma WA, and a granddaughter Elizabeth Jean (EJ) Arnett, 14, of Carol Stream IL.
Born in Martinsville IN, August 31, 1920, "Junior" grew up on a farm. He worked as a Bell Hop at the renowned Martinsville Sanitarium, alongside his father Efra, who was the barber, and there he met his future wife Jean Goss, a staff RN. After marriage in November 1941, EJ apprenticed as a saw smith in Indianapolis, for the E.H. Atkins Saw Company. He was later tagged and drafted with several co-workers by the US Navy's Construction Battalion, or Seabees during WWII, for a special project on the Philippine island of Samar. In 1953 he became a Sales Representative for them, and was assigned to the Kansas City MO region, covering 5 states. However being away from home was not for this family man, who then secured a position in credit sales with Dun & Bradstreet, Kansas City, and later joined Commercial Claims, Inc, in Kansas City KS.
Retiring in 1993, EJ devoted himself to enjoying life with his beloved wife Jean, traveling to Japan and Hawaii, and around the US to visit his family and friends from California and Washington, to Florida and Maine.
EJ was a devoted husband to Jean for 62 years, and a proud father of 4 daughters who treasured him; Lora (Lou) Jones of Overland Park KS, Marilyn (Ron) Arnett of Libertyville IL, Martha Bryant of Gig Harbor WA, and Sally Buckner (Kevin) of St. Joseph MO. He cherished his 12 grandchildren, Ed Jones of Lenexa, Chris Jones of Holden MO, Mark Andrew Ray of Kansas City KS, Andy Arnett of Los Angeles CA, Mark Arnett serving at Ft. Knox KY, Jeremy Bryant of Gig Harbor WA, and Allison Bryant of Gig Harbor WA, Gabriel Buckner of Council Bluffs IA, Vera Hopper of Kearney MO, and Anna Shalz of Stuttgard Germany. EJ was also a doting Great-grandfather to 18 children.
Services will be held on Saturday April 6 at the Raymore Christian Church, 500 Peace Dr., Raymore MO 64083 at 10am for visitation, and 11am for the funeral service. Burial will be at Raymore Cemetery. Arrangements are made by Cullen Funeral Home, 816/322-5278. Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics group, The Olathe Trail Blazers, at olathetrailblazers.org.