Sylvester A. "Al" Singleton

Sylvester A. “Al” Singleton, age 86, of Blue Rapids, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at Blue Valley Senior Living in Blue Rapids.

Al was born August 6, 1933, in Marysville, Kansas, the oldest of twelve children to William “Bud” and Alta Richmond Singleton. 

He married Jean Carol Harmon of San Francisco, California, on March 19, 1955, in Reno, Nevada. She preceded Al in death on August 3, 2012.

Al graduated from Blue Rapids High School in 1952 and received a B.A. degree in Social Science from California State College of Hayward, California in 1964. 

He served in the Army Medical Corps from 1953 to 1956. He attained the rank of Sergeant and at the time of his discharge he was the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of psychiatric services at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco. He served as a probation officer for many years in California and in Kansas. He retired as a Court Administrator for the State of Kansas at age 63. Al served as the first director of the Marshall County Agency on Aging, he served on the Blue Rapids City Council and on several other boards. 

He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Blue Rapids and served several terms on the church Session and Trustees.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, two infant sisters; Laquetta and Sharon, three sisters: Garnet Davis, Anna Claycamp, and Mae Claycamp, a daughter-in-law; Janet Illg Singleton, and a great-grandson Wesley Whitesell.

Survivors include his three children, Robert Singleton (Paula) of Melvern, Iowa, Christopher Singleton (Terri) of Harveyville, Kansas and Suzanne Whitesell (Doug) of Blue Rapids, six grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, four sisters: Paula Murk (Everett), Carol Claycamp (Larry), Sue Hull, all of Blue Rapids and Lori Patton (Chadd) of Crete Nebraska, two brother: Bill Singleton (Mary) of Topeka, Harold “Butch” Singleton (Sharon) of Seneca.

A private graveside inurnment service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 2, 2020, at Prospect Hill Cemetery with Pastor Shannon Borgman officiating. Honorary Bearers are Brian Whitesell, Joseph Whitesell, Michael Singleton, David Singleton, Andrew Singleton and Jamie Singleton. The service will available live on Terry-Christie Funeral Home’s Facebook page.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to RSDS Research and may be sent in care of Terry-Christie Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, KS 66548.