Laton Wharton

We are sad to announce the passing of Laton Wharton of St. Joseph, MO. He passed away at the age of 89 years on June 5, 2023.

He was born on April 11, 1934, in Enyart, MO, the son of Basha (Pierce) and Ted Wharton. He was the fifth of seven children born to this union.

He was married to Margie Thomas on September 27, 1952, and to this union three children were born: Rickey, Richard “Dickie” and Rita. He went on to marry Helen “Louise” Purvis on October 7, 1974, and to this union, one child was born, Basha.

Laton spent his childhood in and around Stanberry, MO. Graduating from Stanberry High School in 1952, he enjoyed success on the football field all four years of high school. He worked many jobs throughout his life and retired as a Teamster Union member in 1997. Throughout the summers his family would enjoy the delicious vegetables he would raise in his backyard garden. Tending to those gardens was a tradition passed down by his mother, Basha.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise; his parents; a baby sister at birth; sister, Ruby Bentley; and brothers, Truman, Rex, and Boyd Wharton.

Laton is survived by his sons, Rickey (Cleva) Wharton, St. Joseph, MO, Richard “Dickie” (Mary) Wharton, Stewartsville, MO; daughters, Rita (David) Mazurkewycz, Clarksdale, MO, Basha (Andrew) Borden, Berryton, KS; sister, Sharon Wharton, St. Joseph, MO; nine grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 9 at Roberson Funeral Home, Stanberry, MO. Burial will follow in Jennings Cemetery, Stanberry, MO. The family will receive friends from Noon to 1:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Jennings Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 153, Stanberry, MO 64489. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com