Joseph Centye

Centye, Joseph, 90, passed away Sunday, July 25, 2010. Rosary, 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 28 at Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Funeral Mass, 10 a.m., Thursday, July 29 at All Saints Catholic Church. Graveside service, 2 p.m., at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina. Joseph was born July 3, 1920 in Long Island, NY, the son of Joseph and Julianna (Javor) Centye, Hungarian immigrants. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was stationed at the Smoky Hill AFB in Salina in 1945. In 1946, he married Margaret Swenson, they had two children, Stephen and Julie. For many years, he worked as a design draftsman in the Wichita Aircraft Industry and in Kansas City; later retiring from W.A. Knapp Co in KC, MO in 1985. After retiring, Joseph remained active in the Senior Olympics until the age of 75, the VFW, and was a lifelong fan of the NY Yankees, KC Royals, and Notre Dame Football. As a teenager, Joseph used to turn styles at Yankee Stadium in the 1920s - 1930s. Babe Ruth once said to him, “Keep up the good work, Sonny”. Joseph returned to Wichita in 2005, where he met the sweetheart wife of his remaining years, Pearl Jones, of the home. Also survived by: son, Stephen (Sherry) Centye, of Overland Park, KS; daughter, Julia (Richard) Sheahon, of Wichita; grandchildren, Heather (Mick) Whalen, of Joplin, MO and Meredith (Aaron) Mansfield, of Wichita; great-grandchildren, Christopher and Catherine Whalen and Elliott Mansfield; and several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: parents; sister, Margorie (Centye) Mascuch; and first wife, Margaret (Swenson) Centye. Memorials have been established with All Saints Catholic Church St. Vincent De Paul Society, 3205 E. Grand, Wichita, KS. 67218. Rosary service 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Graveside service 2:00 P.M. Thursday, July 29, 2010 at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina, Kansas