John Albert Harbaugh

John Albert Harbaugh, age 74, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 4th 2020, at St. Francis hospital in Wichita, Kansas. He was born on July 14, 1945, in Perryton, Texas, to John Albert Harbaugh and Maysel Pearl (Wilson) Harbaugh. The family moved to Keyes, Oklahoma, several years after his birth. John attended Keyes High School in Keyes, Oklahoma. He was an outstanding athlete where he lettered in basketball, football, and track. In 1960, John won the state junior trap shooting in Oklahoma and was ranked 16th nationally.

Following high school, he attended Oklahoma University and played football for two years before being drafted into the U.S. Navy as a hospital Corpsman. He was assigned to the Third Marine Division and deployed to the Republic of Vietnam for 14 months. John served his country from 1967-1968 with courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to his fellow troops; earning him three purple hearts, a bronze star, and numerous other medals of accommodation. After leaving the Navy, he finished college, at Wichita State University earning a degree in Biology and Education. John had a successful 20-year career in medical sales for DuPont Corporation. He married Marilyn Rose on February 16, 2016, in Gilbert, Arizona. After retirement, they moved back to Keyes and John started teaching trap shooting at Boise City High School. He served on the hospital board of directors for Cimarron County Hospital and was an active board member for the Cimarron Trap Shooters Club.

Besides spending time with his family and friends, John had a passion for trap shooting, cooking, photography, golf and gardening. He was known for his buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy as well as his famous pies; especially his coconut cream and lemon meringue.

John is survived by his wife, Marilyn Kay (Rose) Harbaugh of the home; daughter, Amy Marie (Harbaugh) Kruse and husband Michael of Gilbert, Arizona; four granddaughters, Brieanna, Ellie, Phebe, and Emmalia; and sister, Linda Lou Stark of Wichita, Kansas.

He is preceded in death by son, Nicholas John Harbaugh, and two brothers, Carroll Cook and Benjamin Harbaugh.

A memorial service will be Friday, July 10, 2020, at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Nazarene Church in Elkhart with Pastor Keith Davis officiating. Military rites will be conducted by VFW Point Rock Post #79. A family inurnment will take place at a later date at Willow Bar Cemetery in Keyes, Oklahoma, and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Cimarron Trap Shooters Club in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.