Ray R. Bussell, 83, rural Osawatomie, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, in Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

He was born July 25, 1923, in rural Osawatomie, the second of the three children of Vern and Lola Johnson Bussell. He grew up in Osawatomie and graduated in 1940 from Osawatomie High School.

Mr. Bussell served his country with the U.S. Army during World War II. He entered the military on July 16, 1942, and was honorably discharged Feb. 5, 1946, as a private first class. He served in Europe.

He married Rosalie Barnett on Sept. 7, 1946, in Osawatomie. They lived in Kansas City, Mo., and became the parents of three children. In the early 1950s they moved to Overland Park where they lived until moving to Osawatomie in 1973.

Mr. Bussell worked for Trans World Airlines as an aircraft electrician from 1952 until retiring in 1980.

He had several hobbies throughout his lifetime — hunting, fishing, baseball and gardening. He enjoyed playing baseball in his younger years and was an avid Kansas City Royals baseball fan.

Those preceding him in death were his wife, Rosalie, who died May 8, 2006; a daughter, Marcia Lee Dodge; and his brother, Keith Bussell.

Survivors include his son, Alan Bussell of Paola; his daughter, Mary Johnson of Eudora; his sister, Charlotte Manly of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were Monday in Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. Burial was in the Osawatomie Cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers were Bud Bussell, Ernie Bussell, Johnny Rayl, Vernon Bartlett, Jeff Johnson and Mary Johnson. Honorary pallbearers will be Sean Bussell, Alan V. Bussell, Michael Bussell, Logan Bussell, Mason Bussell, Bob Hays, Harold Cartwright and Robert Kitchen.

Memorials are to the Lawrence Humane Society in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 430, Osawatomie, KS 66064.