Imogene Tice

Imogene Tice, 107, passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas. Visitation will be from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Friday, August 9, 2024, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 10, 2024, at East Heights United Methodist Church. Graveside Service will be 3:00 pm, Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Elmwood Cemetery, Beloit, KS. Imogene Tice was born September 13, 1916, to Bennie T. and Nettie Conn Gray at the farm home in Mitchell County, Kansas near Beloit. She departed this life July 31, 2024. Growing up on the farm she earned her nickname “Cricket”, always whistling as she gathered eggs from the hen house.Imogene attended the Hyde District 62 one-room country schoolhouse through 8th grade, and moved to town to attend Beloit High School, graduating in 1934. She shared an apartment in town with her sister Elva and girlfriends while attending high school and worked at the local Scott’s General Store as clerk and cashier. Later, she worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where she became Chief Operator. Imogene was united in marriage to Eugene Tice at the Beloit Methodist Church on August 10, 1941, and moved to Scandia, Kansas, where he was a music teacher. They moved back to Beloit in 1942 and Imogene went back to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where she worked six years as a Service Representative. Imogene and Eugene were blessed with three daughters: Rebecca, Barbara and Patricia. They moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1953 and Imogene enjoyed being a wife and mother. She enjoyed sewing for the 3 girls. She spent many years as Camp Fire Leader, and was always willing to serve as Room Mother and various offices in the PTA. Although she was not a musician herself, Imogene was always a good listener and enjoyed keeping all the family engaged in music. Imogene and Eugene always found time to travel, taking the family to both coasts and Canada. Imogene began taking traffic studies for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1967, and in 1968 she went to work at the Sedgwick County switchboard and became their Switchboard Supervisor. She was there 13 years, retiring the same day as her husband Eugene retired from teaching. During their 1st year of retirement, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, a trip to Hawaii visiting 4 islands, and a 6-week trip by car to the east. After Eugene’s death, Imogene continued traveling, taking many mystery bus trips with friends, a trip to Ireland and Great Britain, where she discovered an Irish Castle carrying the family name, and leaned over to kiss the Blarney Stone. She also enjoyed an inside passageway trip to Alaska, and to the Caribbean. Imogene was a member of East Heights United Methodist Church, Love Circle, Lamadras Homemakers Unit, and Telecommunications PBX Club, as well as the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, TM Club. In later years Imogene liked to stay socially active, as a member of the Red Hat Society, participating in the Bell Choir and Bible Study groups, and group outings. She loved to play Bingo and cards such as Canasta, as well as being an avid reader. Imogene always enjoyed the accomplishments of her daughters and their families. Always cheerful, Imogene loved her family and friends, and she was loved by all who were lucky enough to know her. Preceded in death by her parents, Bennie Tanquary and Nettie Mae Gray; brother, Leo Vernon Gray; sister, Elva Wandalene Wills; husband, Eugene B. Tice; son, Ronald Eugene Tice. Survived by her daughters, Rebecca (Craig) Leonard, Barbara Tice, Patricia (Mike) Senkow; grandchildren, Chris (Jacque) Leonard, Jennifer (Sean) Lehr, Melissa (Chad) Eisentrager, Adam (Tori) Hamant, Jason (Julia) Hamant, Dillon (Kim) Savard; twelve great-grandchildren; nephews, Larry (Doris) Wills, and Ben (Pat) Wills. A memorial has been established with: Arthritis Foundation 1355 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309.