Gladwin W. Chaffin

Chaffin, Gladwin W., 91, passed away Saturday, November 28, 2009. Gladwin was born November 5, 1918 in Hutchison, KS to Eva (Wilkie) and Gladwin P. Chaffin. He received his BA from Friends University and MA from Columbia University, taking summer courses at the University of Michigan as well as a six month crash course in Swedish language and culture at the University of Minnesota. Gladwin also spent 16 months at The Konservatorium in Berne, Switzerland. He taught high school vocal and instrumental music and English literature in Montezuma, KS. He was an Associate Professor of Piano at Bethany College in Bethany, W. Virginia and Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. Gladwin spent six years operating G M Sundries, a general merchandise business with a soda fountain. He retired as a manager of Gessler Drug West, having a minor interest in Gessler Drug, Inc. Gladwin trained with the 14th Armored Division, Camp Chaffee, in Ft. Smith, AR. He was assigned to the office of Strategic Services in England for training in codes. Later, he served under Allen Dulles, head of the OSS mission, in Berne, Switzerland. He participated in arranging the first armistice. Though on 24 hour call, he studied piano with Pierre Souveran, was a pupil of Alfred Cortot and was one of the Swiss piano prodigies. Gladwin topped off studies with a concert at the Konservatorium. After being discharged, he returned to take charge of the code room in Berne. In the meantime, he met and married Margrit Luthi. For their honeymoon, Margrit and Gladwin drove one of the first cars able to drive through 20 foot snow drifts on the Gottard Pass to Maliaso in the warmer Italian sector. Gladwin was a member of the exceptional graduating class of East High in 1936. In the late 1980s he joined Plymouth Congregational Church. He has enjoyed and still enjoys the fellowships established with the church and almost life-long relationship made in a Latin-English class at Roosevelt Jr. High. Gladwin counted among his friends, Willard and Jean Garvey, Hale Ritchie and many others whose acquaintance he made as the manager at Gessler Drug West, as well as activities at the Art Museum and Alliance Francais with his wife, Margrit. Survivors: wife, Margrit; daughter and son-in-law, Leslie Chaffin and Jon Smith, of Mulvane; grandson, Colt Chaffin; sister-in-law, Virginia Chaffin, of Estes Park, CO. Graveside service will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Maize Park Cemetery, Maize, Kansas. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with Plymouth Congregational Church Music Fund, 202 North Clifton, Wichita, Kansas, 67208. Downing Lahey Mortuary West.