Ralph Potts

Ralph E. Potts, age 86, of Columbus died Wednesday; February 12, 2003 at Beverly Health Care in Columbus. Funeral services are 10:00 am Saturday, February 15, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church in Columbus with the Rev. Gary Main officiating. Visitation is on Friday from 4:00 - 8:00pm at McKown Funeral Home and on Saturday from 9:00 am until service time at the Methodist Church. Interment is in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Columbus. Memorials may be directed to donors choice.

Ralph Edward Potts was born on January 7, 1917. He was born and raised on a farm south of Tilden, Nebraska to Lee and Emma (Wallin) Potts. After graduating from Tilden High School where he played most sports he followed his wife to be, Meryl A. Nelson to California. They were married in Yuma, Arizona on December 7, 1937. They made their home in the Los Angeles area where their two daughters were born. He worked for Douglas Aircraft as a supervisor, building planes for World War II. In 1947 they returned to Nebraska where he worked for Farm Bureau Insurance Co. and National Travelers Life. In 1957 they moved to Columbus where he started an insurance agency. He and Meryl lived in Columbus for 40 years. They lived in Arizona for 5 years and then returned to Columbus. Ralph was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Lions Club, Elks Club, and Toastmasters. Traveling was his great love, fishing, mechanical work, building the house he and his wife lived in at Wagner Lakes, and especially being with their family. His death followed and emergency surgery.

He is survived by:

Daughter: Mary (Darrell) Mueller Chandler, AZ
Daughter: Barb Sedlacek Columbus, NE
Four Grandchildren
Nine Great Grandchildren

He was preceded by:

Wife: Meryl A. Potts
Father: Lee Potts
Mother: Emma Potts
Infant Sister
Brother: Charles Potts