William Kenneth 'Bill' Colvin, 81

William Kenneth "Bill" Colvin, 81, died Friday, March 13, 2009, at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kan. He was born Jan. 22, 1928, at Wichita, Kan., the son of William Kemper and Clara (Radar) Colvin.

He was a Moline, Kan., high-school graduate. He then received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan.

He served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954 during the Korean conflict as an aerographer.

On June 12, 1954, he married Virginia Shunk at Madison, Kan. She survives him.

He was a salesman with Continental Emsco in Ellinwood, Pratt and Liberal, all in Kansas, from 1954 to 1963.

Beginning in 1962 to present time, he was the owner of High Plains Pizza. He opened the 18th Pizza Hut in the country in Liberal. The business continued to grow to its current status of 76 restaurants in five states.

He was a member of the Liberal Country Club, Liberal Elks Lodge No. 1947, Seward County Community College Booster Club, Republican Party and the International Pizza Hut Franchise Holder Association. He was inducted into the Pizza Hut Hall of Fame on April 23, 1991.

A great philanthropist, he gave much to support the Liberal community and other communities in Montana.

Other survivors include four sons, Kent Colvin of Liberal, Mike Colvin and wife, Patty, of Liberal, Greg Colvin and wife, Elizabeth, of Great Falls, and Tracy Colvin of Scottsdale, Ariz.; one sister, Ann Minnich, and husband, David, of Wernersville, Pa.; 12 grandchildren, Kevin Colvin and wife, Tanya, Kayla Johnson and husband, Cody, Brett Colvin, Corey Colvin, Brandi Colvin, Alex Colvin, Brionna Colvin, Geoffrey Colvin, Alyssa Colvin, Matthew Colvin, Austin Colvin and Josh Kohler; and four great-grandchildren, Kyler Johnson, Kahne Johnson, Kendyl Johnson and William Kyle Colvin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a granddaughter, Ashley Colvin.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, at First Southern Baptist Church, with the Rev. Keith Bryant presiding.

A guest book will be available for signing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Kitch-Brenneman Funeral Home in Liberal.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the National Emphysema Foundation; or the Seward County Community College Athletic Department, c/o Kitch-Brenneman Funeral Home, 1212 W. 2nd, Liberal, KS67901.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brennemanfuneralhome.com