Obituary of Wendell R. Vars

Wendell Ramon Vars was born December 9, 1923, in Andover, NY, second son of Floyd and Marion Vars; he passed away March 16, 2023, in Loveland, CO, his home for nearly fifty years. Wendell grew up in Andover, and after graduating from high school in 1942, he enrolled at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, planning to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, owning and operating his own drugstore in his hometown. World War II intervened, and Wen found himself in the US Navy, serving his country in San Diego, working in a naval hospital. At war’s end, he returned to college and graduated in 1948.

 

Following a brief stint in Ithaca, NY, Wendell came back to Andover, worked in the local pharmacy, saved his money, and after a few years, he bought it. During this time, he was fortunate also to acquire a wonderful wife and partner in life and work, Kathryn Joyce. They were married in Andover in 1958. After nearly 20 years, the West called to them and they moved to Loveland, Colorado, where they lived until the present. Wendell continued with his pharmaceutical work there also, until retirement some years ago, after which he and Kathy enjoyed several pleasant years as “snowbirds” at a retirement park in Dade City, Florida, where they could be close to his brother Ken and make new friends as well.

 

Wendell was predeceased by his parents, his brother Ken (Hilda), sisters Marjorie (John Cancilleri) and Dorothy Vars who died as a child in the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, and a nephew Douglas Vars. He is survived by his beloved wife Kathy, sister-in-law Betty Oister, and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

There will be no funeral service; his remains will however be interred at the Fort Logan National Military Cemetery in Denver, CO at a later date.

 

Those who wish to honor Wendell’s memory with a gift may contribute to: https://www.honorflight.org/general-donations/

 

To donate in cash, by regular mail, the address is:

Honor Flight

Box L-4016

Columbus, OH 43260-4016

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