Franklin Dale Reinhardt, OD, 99, passed away on Dec. 26, 2022, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born on Oct. 26, 1923, in Bazine to Ben and Neta Reinhardt. On Dec. 25, 1950, he married LaVerne Aileen Pascoe in Great Bend. She passed on Sept. 3, 2016.
A lifetime resident of Great Bend, Franklin spent his working career as an optometrist, practicing for 40 years. He served as director of the Kansas Optometric Association and was editor of its Optometric Journal.
He was an Eagle Scout as a youth and later served for over 15 years as Scoutmaster and adult scout trainer. He served on the council board for the Girl Scouts and was a member of the steering committee for the development of Camp Aldrich.
Franklin was founding committee member and president of the Barton County Community College Endowment Association, founding member and president of USD 428 Educational Foundation, and founding board member of the Central Kansas Medical Center Foundation.
He served as president and director of the Great Bend Public Library. Franklin was active in numerous other civic clubs and groups in Great Bend including past president of the Lions Club and member for 63 years, as well as serving as chairman for the American Red Cross and member of the American Legion for 50 years.
He was recognized by the Jaycees in 1958 as the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the Great Bend community.
He was a founding member of the Foundry Methodist Church, and a lifetime member of Gideons International.
As a doctor of optometry, he was able to serve on various mission trips addressing the vision care of people in need. He served his country in WWII in the Army Air Force.
An avid golfer in his younger years, he also enjoyed a good golf game on TV. He sang in the church choir for 37 years at the United Methodist Church where he also served as a lay leader and numerous committee heads.
He was an avid reader, giving him the skill to talk about any subject with anyone. Franklin and LaVerne were both instrumental in the remodeling and opening of the Dream Center in Great Bend.
Survivors include his daughter, Roxanne Smith, of Wichita; his son Brent Reinhardt and his wife, Janet, of Wichita; his son, Randall Reinhardt, DDS, of Kansas City, Mo.; and his daughter, Renee Betcher, of Leesburg, Va.; seven grandchildren, Brian Smith, DDS, and wife Emily, Abby Andrus and husband Adam, Rex Reinhardt and wife Sammi, Megan Betcher, and Matthew Betcher, Blake Scarmeas and wife Erica, and Cole Scarmeas; five great-grandchildren, Boone Smith, Vera Smith, Hazel Smith, Elsie Andrus and Lexie Andrus; his Vietnamese family, Ban Le Tran, Jackie, Esther, Victor, Remy and Sandy and his Chinese grandson, Long Zhao; a brother, Richard Reinhardt of Overland Park; a sister, Margaret Hahn of Palo Alto, Calif.; and honorary family member, Mary Scarmeas. He is preceded in death by his wife, LaVerne; a sister, Dorothy Biggs; a brother, Don Reinhardt, DDS; and two sons-in-law, Robert Smith, DDS, and David Betcher.
Visitation will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at Bryant Funeral Home. The funeral service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at Foundry Methodist Church with Pastor David Mann presiding. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials have been designated to Gideons International, the Dream Center, or Foundry Methodist Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.