LITTLETON, Colo. — Willie Edwin Schultz, 79, died July 7 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz., surrounded by his wife, children and grandson. Born July 26, 1932, in Russell, he was the son of Alexander David Schultz and Mollie Weimaster Schultz.

He grew up on the farm in southeast Russell County, and attended a one-room school house for the first eight grades. In 1949 he graduated from Russell High School, where he was involved in football, track and played on the 1949 State Championship basketball team. In 1990 the team was inducted in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and their 1949 team photo now hangs in the Sports Arena in Hutchinson.

After graduation, he went to work in the oil fields for the Isern Brothers. He moved to Ellinwood in 1956, where he lived for more than 40 years before moving to Littleton.

On Jan. 16, 1999 he married Marietta (LeBlanc-Shadley) Schultz, in Littleton, Colo. He was in crude oil production, and was president and co-owner of Isern-Schultz Oil & Gas Inc.

He enjoyed doodle-bugging. farming, fishing, flying his airplanes, traveling abroad and annual family trips.

Mr. Schultz served in the Army for two years in Texas and Germany during the Korean War. He served on the Ellinwood City Council, the Peoples State Bank Board of Directors, the First National Bank & Trust Co. Board of Directors in Great Bend and Ellinwood, as Sunday School Superintendent for 10 years at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellinwood. He was a Wheat Bowl Founder. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW and St. Philip Lutheran Church in Littleton, Colo.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Thomas Schultz of Flower Mound, Texas, and Brian Schultz and his wife Jenny of Grapevine, Texas; a daughter, Susan Wilson and her husband Daniel of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; a sister, Esther Rassette of Russell; three grandchildren, Derek Wilson of Plano, Texas, and Jacqueline and Sophia Schultz of Grapevine, Texas. He was preceded in death by two sons, Kirk Edwin Schultz and Curtis Lee Schultz; and a daughter, Holly Diane Schultz; a brother, Julius Schultz; and a sister, Gladys M. Shadley.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellinwood with Pastor Jeff Frakes officiating. Burial will be at the Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association, Ellinwood Area Health Care Foundation, or to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellinwood.