In my notebook of Briles items shared by Mildred Barby, is a photocopy of a funeral card for Richard E. Briles (1946-1967).

A search for an obituary in Liberal Kansas newspapers was not productive. However, broadening the search to Kansas uncovered several items related to the death of Richard E. Briles. The first was in the 20 April 1967 issue of The Wichita Eagle.

page 5

Man Killed in Wichita Auto Crash

A Wichita man was killed and his teen-age companion injured about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in a one-car crash on the I-235 bypass near West Street.

Richard Earl Briles, 20, of 2804 E. Douglas, was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Francis Hospital shortly after the accident.

Briles was a passenger in a compact auto driven by John Hayworth, 18, of 2827 S. Elizabeth. Hayworth suffered a broken right leg and chest injuries.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Rich Adams said Hayworth was going north on the bypass when he lost control of the car. The auto skidded on its wheels sideways down the road nearly 300 feet before entering and rolling several times in the medial strip.

Adams said Briles was thrown more than 130 feet beyond the car’s twisted wreckage.

Both Briles and Hayworth were employes of Gold Cross Ambulance Co., Wichita.

The fatality was the sixth in Wichita this year compared to 13 killed on city streets this time last year. A total of 13 persons have been killed this year in Sedgwick County.

On the 21st of April was an obituary for Richard Briles in The Wichita Eagle.

page 14A

Richard Briles, Victim of Crash, Services Pend

Services were pending Thursday for Richard E. Briles, 20, of 2804 E. Douglas, who was killed Wednesday night in a one-car crash in the I-235 bypass near West Street.

Born at Meade, Kan., he was a junior at Wichita State University and a dispatcher for Gold Cross Ambulance Co. He formerly worked for DeVorss-Gard Mortuary. He was a member of Liberal, Kan., Apostollic Church.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Briles, Liberal; a brother, the Rev. Ross, Modesto, Calif.; and two sisters, Mrs. Ted Simineo, Paonia, Colo., and Mrs. J.D. Ray, Anchorage, Alaska.

Campbell Funeral Home, Liberal, has charge.

Then on the 25th, a funeral notice appeared in The Wichita Eagle on page 20.

Briles – Richard E., age 20, of 2804 E. Douglas, Memorial services will be conducted at the Devorss-Gard chapel, 201 S. Hydraulic, at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 25. The Rev. Dr. G. A. Gough, pastor of the First Nazarene church will officiate. Interment Liberal, Kans., cemetery.

A DeVorss-Gard Service