Ralph Vincent Whitla, 81, Osawatomie, died Friday, Oct. 30, 1987, at the Olathe Medical Center.

He was born Nov. 14, 1905, in Anthony, Kan., the oldest of five children born to John and Liddie McKaughan Whitla.

The family moved to Osawatomie in 1914. He attended and graduated from the Osawatomie High School in the Class of 1925. He then furthered his education at the College of Emporia, where he graduated in 1929.

Mr. Whitla returned to Osawtomie and worked for his father in the hardware business. His father died in 1938 and he continued with the business until 1942. He then worked in a defense industry in Kansas City until the end of World War II at which time he returned to Osawatomie and opened a radio and television service business. Mr. Whitla retired in 1982 because of failing health.

He was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie. He was a former elder and taught the adult Sunday school class for many years. He was a member of the Osawatomie Lions Club and the Osage Valley Lodge 24 AF&AM.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother.

He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Louise Judy of Santa Rosa, Calif., Mrs. Dorothy Palmer of Santa Ana, Calif., and Mrs. Marjorie Van Antwerp of Avon Lake, Ohio.

The services were at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the United Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie. The Rev. Ralph Adamson officiated. Mrs. Nelle Dollar was the organist.

The pallbearers were John David Cole, Fred Wicke, Bob Wilson, Jack Spears, Charles Freeman and Everett Whitney. The burial was in the Osawatomie Cemetery with Masonic services.