Notes for: Walton ("Walt") Martin Bodine, Jr.
From Ronny Bodine:
From Kansas City Star of 15 Feb 1992.
Age: 71. Born Aug. 27, 1920, in Kansas City. Occupation: Host of "The Walt Bodine Show" on KCUR-FM; professor, department of communications studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City; commentator on KMBC, Channel 9; columnist for The Squire; author, currently working on a new book of short stories based in Kansas City featuring walk-on appearances of real people intermixed with fictional characters. Family: wife, Bernadine; five grown children: Marty, Tom, Mary, Damien and Rebecca. Best interview guest: James Michener, writer, on WDAF. "I remember asking him why he started writing about the South Pacific. He said, `Since I was neglected writer, I decided to find a neglected part of the world and write about it. ' " Worst interview guest: Julie London, actress, on WDAF. "She didn't want to be there. She was giving mostly `Yep' and ~`No' answers. Midway through the show, her lavaliere microphone became undone and slipped down into her cleavage. I had a hard time getting the message through to her to get it out of there. I finally told her it sounded as if we were getting an electrocardiogram. " Favorite Kansas Citian: "Though he was not a Kansas Citian, Harry S. Truman (whose home was in Independence). He was honest and direct, more direct than anyone I've seen in politics before or since. " Best time of life: "Right now. I've felt that at each period of my life. Whenever I hear people moaning, I tell them, `Any day you are alive and not hurting is a good day.' "
Obituary, Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) of 23 Oct 2003.
Bernadine "Bernie" Marie Bodine of Kansas City, MO, died October 22, 2003, at home in the presence of family and friends after a lengthy neurological illness. Bernie was born May 6, 1918 in Salina, KS, to Otto and Bell Beisner. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Walt Bodine, and their five children, Marty, Tom, Damien "D.J." and Rebecca of Kansas City and Mary of Tucson and her four grandchildren, Jessica, David, Alexandra “Alex” and Zach. She is also survived by sister, Geraldine Marzec of Mustang, OK and brother, Jerald Beisner of Macon, GA. Bernie began a lifelong dedication to social work by earning her Master's Degree in Social Work at Saint Louis University and her B.A. from Mary mount College. She pioneered efforts for families of young and adult children with multiple special challenges, leading to services such as family education, respite care, and the creation of White Oaks, a group home for those with multiple disabilities (originally identified as deaf/blind). She also worked at the Deaf/Blind program at Wheatley Elementary School, the Regional Diagnostic Clinic and Children's Visual Education Center. She retired from Social Work in July of 1988. As a member of the Jackson County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Bernie was a person with one mission: to give citizens of Jackson County with developmental disabilities a chance to grow individually, and to be respected throughout the community. Prior to becoming a social worker, Bernie served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Services will be Friday, October 24, with a visitation at 9:15 a.m. and a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Meyer Boulevard and Holmes, in Kansas City. The family suggests contributions, in lieu of flowers, be sent to either the Alzheimer's Association, 3846 West 75th Street, Prairie Village, KS 66208 or Wheatley Elementary School Activities Fund, 2415 Agnes, Kansas City, MO 64127.
Obituary, Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) of 27 March 2013.
Walt Bodine, 92, died Sunday, March 24, 2013, after a long career in broadcasting. His final days were filled with Kansas City memories, friends, family and chocolate malts. Born in 1920, Walt lived virtually his entire life in Kansas City. He was the only child of Walton Martin Bodine and Mary Gilmore Bodine. His career spanned 70 years from 1940 until his retirement in 2012. Much has been said of his professional life, so the focus here is on the private man and family. In 1950, Walt married Bernadine Beisner and raised a family of five. Bernadine passed away in 2003. Walt is survived by his children, Marty Bodine, Tom Bodine (Ellen), Damien Bodine and Rebecca Bodine (Mark x) of Kansas City, and Mary Bodine of Tucson, AZ. Walt has five grandchildren, David Bodine, Alexandra Thiessen (Adam) and Zachary Walton Bodine of Kansas City, and Jessica Bodine of Lawrence, KS, and Terry Carr (Jen) of Belton, MO. He also leaves these great grandchildren: Jala, Hannah, Xzavier and Aeryn. Walt gave to his family his values, humor and love of Kansas City people, places and food. He set an example of how to live a rich, creative life. Walt loved conversation and the open exchange of ideas. In later years when losses of vision, mobility and then memory set in, Walt relied on many steadfast friends who kept him up-to-date and took him out on the town. We send our deepest love and appreciation to all of them, especially Robert Barrientos and Rob Forsythe. Walt also received years of caring friendship from Odessa Nix and Anita Martin, and all his friends and neighbors at Oak Hall. Walt was a man who rarely complained and forged ahead every way he could. He once said, 'Being blind isn't a tragedy. It's just one hell of an inconvenience.' Decades of blindness could not dim his imagination and interest in people. Walt and his wife Bernie helped to establish the Jackson County Board of Services, which is a vital support to many local people with disabilities. Walt was a founder of a Saturday lunch group where lively ideas, views and news flew around the table every week, and still do. He was a member of Visitation parish. And, of course, he was a very proud member of KCUR public radio. Generous to the end, Walt donated his body to medical science, as did his wife Bernie. There will be a public Celebration of the Life of Walt Bodine at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2013, at the Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to either the UMKC Foundation's Walt Bodine scholarship fund, UMKC Office of Development, 202 AC, 5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110 or the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired, 3101 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. (See www.waltbodine.com for details.)