Walnut Valley Cemetery Obituaries

KASPER, KENNETH D.

GETTY REFINERY EMPLOYEE DIES OF BURNS SUFFERED IN A FLASH FIRE

Kenneth D. Kasper

Kenneth D. Kasper, 25, of Route 3, an employee of the Getty Refining and Marketing Company's El Dorado refinery, died at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita Wednesday from injuries suffered in a flash fire at the refinery earlier in the day.

In connection with the incident, the company released the following statement:

"A flash fire which occurred at a major unit in Getty Refining and Marketing Company's El Dorado refinery early this (Wednesday) morning resulted in the death of Kenneth D. Kasper, an employee of less than a year.

"Kasper, 25, was taken to Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado and transferred to the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where he died at 11:22 a.m.

The flash fire, which is a fire of a few seconds duration that results from the ignition of vapors, was quickly extinguished by a refinery fireman. An investigation is under way to determine the source of the vapors and ignition.

"No other people were injured in the incident."

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Grace Lutheran Church with burial in the Walnut Valley Memorial Park.

Mr. Kasper was born Feb. 24, 1953, at Newton, the son of Dan and Fern Owens Kasper. He moved to El Dorado in 1956 from Newton and attended the El Dorado schools. On June 30, 1972, he married Nancy Scobee. He was an avid hunter and sportsmen. His memberships included the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union Local 5-241.

Survivors include his wife of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kasper of El Dorado; two sons, Jason Kasper and Teddie Pope, and one daughter, Cathi Pope, all of the home; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Emma Kasper of Newton; three brothers, Robert and Rocky of El Dorado and Daniel, Jr., of Iola; six sisters, Mrs. Joan Nelson and Mrs. Carol Kohler, both of Carthage, Mo., Mrs. Emma Vaughn and Miss LaVerta Kasper, both of Georgia, Mrs. Louise Kidd and Mrs. Eulalah Miller, both of Springfield, Mo.

A memorial has been established in his name with the Shrine Burn Center. Contributions may be made at the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home, which is in charge of the arrangements.

The casket will not be opened.
(El Dorado Times ~ January 10, 1979 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)