610 N. Maple
Russell, KS 67665
785-483-2212​

 701 N. First Street
Natoma, KS 67651
785-885-4221​

610 N. Maple

Russell, KS 67665
785-483-2212

701 N. First Street

Natoma, KS 67651
785-885-4221

Myrtle M. Oswald

Myrtle Marie “Myrt” (Cline) Oswald, 93, of Russell, Kansas, and formerly of Luray, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2019 at the Health Care Resort of Wichita, Kansas.

Myrtle was born on April 16, 1926 on the Cline farm east of Bunker Hill, Kansas and was the daughter of John Marion and Marie T. “Daisy” (Sechtem) Cline.  She grew up in Bunker Hill and graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1943 and attended one year at Ft. Hays State University and one year at Brown Mackie College of Salina.

Myrtle was united in marriage to Ralph Laverne Oswald of Luray on February 16, 1947 in Salina, Kansas.  The union was blessed with four children; John, Cheryl, Roger and Janis.  They made their home in Luray until moving to Russell in 2016.  Myrtle was a devoted wife and homemaker for her children and also worked part-time at the People State Bank as a teller.  She wrote articles for the Natoma/Luray Independent and served on the Russell County Election Board.  While her boys were young, she was a Cub Scout Den Mother.  She was a member of the Luray United Methodist Church and enjoyed square dancing, gardening, quilting, crocheting and scrapbooking. For more than 28 years she and Ralph enjoyed RV traveling as “snowbirds” in Texas and Yuma, Arizona. 

Myrtle’s surviving family include her husband of 72 years, Ralph; daughters, Cheryl Gibson of Pittsburg, Kansas and Janis Kelley of Frontenac, Kansas; sons, John Oswald (Judith) and Roger Oswald (Sue) all of Wichita, Kansas; sister, Phyllis Hampl (Eldon) of Luray, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Nathan Moore (Anita), Jordan Moore (Gary), Joshua Barr (Kristin), Jared Barr (Natalie), Jordan Barr (Elba), Morgan Douglas (Allan), Alicia Simon (Michael) and Grant Kelley; and 11 great grandchildren.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents, sister Lois Crissman, half-sister Bessie Phillips and son-in-law Neil Gibson.

Celebration of Myrtle’s life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at the Luray United Methodist Church with Pastor Les Rye officiating.  Burial will follow at the Luray City Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  A Memorial has been established with Luray United Methodist Church.  Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler, Russell, Kansas