Category: In Memoriam

Emily McReynolds, who formerly worked in personnel and research development, passed away June 27.

McReynolds joined Wichita State in 1973 and worked in personnel and research development until she retired in 2006. She was recognized as a Bender of Twigs in 1997 and was honored at the 2007 Services Awards. A brick was dedicated to McReynolds in the Plaza of Heroines by her daughters, Anne and Sarah, in 1998, which is now located in the northwest quadrant of the plaza.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at College Hill United Methodist Church, 2930 E. 1st St. N.

Peter Zoller, associate professor emeritus and former associate vice president in Academic Affairs, passed away June 7.

Zoller joined Wichita State in 1973, teaching in the Department of English and later becoming chair of the department. He went on to serve as president of the Faculty Senate in 1988 and was recognized as a Bender of Twigs in 1999.

Memorials have been established with the Lord’s Diner, Guadalupe Clinic and the University of San Francisco.

Grady Landrum, former director of Disability Services, passed away May 18.

Landrum, who served as director for over 25 years, retired from Wichita State in 2019. In 2016, he was recognized as a Bender of Twigs. During his tenure, Landrum served as an advocate for students with disabilities and helped shape disability services at WSU into what it is today. Read more about Landrum’s story.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25 at Wichita Bible Church, 633 S. Woodlawn Blvd.

Dr. Kandatege Wimalasena, professor of biochemistry, passed away April 30.

Wimalasena served Wichita State for over 35 years where he primarily researched the toxins that can cause Parkinson’s disease. He was recognized as a WSU Bender of Twigs in 2014.

A visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, followed by funeral services from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., at Reflection Pointe Funeral & Cremation Services, 3201 S. Webb Rd.

William Ellwood “Bill” Wynne III, registrar emeritus, passed away April 16.

Wynne served Wichita State for over 35 years before retiring from the Registrar’s Office in 2012, where he was given the registrar emeritus designation. He was also recognized with the President’s Distinguished Service Award in 2007.

Service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 5002 E. Douglas Ave.

Elmer Hoyer, professor emeritus of engineering, passed away March 4.

Hoyer worked for Wichita State for over 30 years before retiring in 2001, starting as an assistant professor of electrical engineering in 1966. He completed his doctoral dissertation in 1967 and was later promoted to associate professor in 1971 and professor in 1980.

Visitation will be at noon Thursday, March 12 at Old Mission Mortuary, 3424 E. 21st St. N, followed by services at 1 p.m.

Richard Todd, associate professor emeritus of history, passed away Dec. 8.

Todd worked for Wichita State for over 30 years before retiring in 1996 and was honored as a Bender of Twigs in 1988. He contributed to “Introduction to the History of Christianity” and had sabbaticals in Athens and Jerusalem, where he participated in an archaeological dig.

After his retirement, Todd continued his scholarly work and published “Napoleon’s Medals: Victory to the Arts” in 2009, which shed light on the artwork depicting Napoleon’s various conquests displayed through the medals he commissioned, and later wrote the “Gold of Qumran” novel trilogy.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N. Webb Rd.

Dr. Anna Chandler, former chairperson of the ethnic studies department, died Sept. 20. Her teaching extended far beyond the classroom — she was known as a visionary educator, a captivating historian and a mentor who encouraged her students to dream beyond their own imagination.

Connie Morris, retired Elliott School of Communication faculty member, passed away Feb. 4. Morris was with Wichita State for more than 35 years before retiring in 2012, but she continued to teach until 2017.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 at College Hill United Methodist Church, 2930 E. 1st St. N.

We are deeply heartbroken to share with our community and friends that Kiah Duggins was aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita to Washington, D.C.

Kiah was a proud alumna of the Barton School of Business and Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, graduating in the spring of 2017 with degrees in international business, economics and Spanish. A recipient of the prestigious Clay Barton Scholarship in 2013, she joined a distinguished group of exceptionally talented students. During her time at Wichita State, Kiah cofounded the Shocker Food Locker, an initiative that continues to support students facing food insecurity. Her unwavering commitment to building more equitable communities is a legacy we can all carry forward within Shocker Nation.

Born and raised in Wichita, Kiah was the daughter of Dr. Maurice and Gwen Duggins, who instilled in her a deep commitment to social justice through their own dedication to serving underserved communities in education and healthcare. After graduating from Wichita State, she went on to earn her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she served as president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. It was no surprise that after law school, Kiah became an attorney with the Civil Rights Corps in Washington, D.C., continuing her family’s legacy of advocacy and service.

During her tenure as an attorney, Kiah litigated on behalf of movements challenging unconstitutional policing and money bail practices. She studied prison industrial complex abolition and movement lawyering as a Law 4 Black Lives Fellow and integrated those concepts into her daily work.

Her family remains active in the Wichita community, and this tragedy has profoundly impacted all who knew her. Today, we mourn the loss of one of our own. To those who had the privilege of knowing Kiah, our hearts are with you during this incredibly difficult time.

Kiah was a beacon of light, a testament to perseverance and an inspiration to all who dream big and work tirelessly to achieve their goals. We hope her legacy continues to inspire our students, serving as a reminder of what is possible through determination, passion and purpose.