George Franklin Todd

George Franklin Todd, jr. died in his Lenexa, KS home on June 25, 2025, just 3 weeks shy of his 100th birthday. Born in Kansas City Kansas to George Sr. and Mary Christina McCoshum Todd, George was a lifelong Kansan whose passions included sports, (as both an athlete and a fan), family (especially the young ones) and reading (he devoured piles of books well past his 99th birthday). George’s widowed father raised George and his younger brother Bill with the help of their quirky Uncle Kikey and two older sisters. Money was tight, and in a move that influenced the rest of his life, George earned school lunch money by caddying at a local golf course. He played golf and basketball at Rosedale High School and Emporia State Teachers’ College and coached basketball first in Independence, Kansas then in Kansas City, Kansas, at Central Junior and Argentine High School. Later, he was a high school basketball referee and baseball umpire. George continued at Central Junior as a teacher and counselor and at Harmon High School as vice principal. He finished his career as principal at Rosedale where he had graduated in the class of 1943. Whether mentoring students in the classroom, guiding future athletes as a coach, or sharing camaraderie during weekend golf games, his steadfast commitment to teaching and coaching left a lasting impression on countless students and athletes. During World War II, George served proudly as a nose gunner on a B 24 Liberator. A sergeant in the Army Air Corps, he was stationed in Italy. Years after the war ended, members of his unit held regular reunions and like many veterans, he finally began to share details about his war experiences decades later. As the last surviving member of his unit, in 2012, he was delighted to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington DC on an Honor Flight. Throughout his career and in retirement, George was happiest on the golf course with his long-time buddies who affectionately called themselves ‘The Fearsome Foursome.” Once the others convinced him to take a break from his Dubs Dred marshalling job to play a single hole. Cool as always, he sunk one of three career holes- in- one. George famously shot his age at 66, placed in several Kansas Senior tournaments, and passed his love for the sport to the next three generations, most recently to his 12-year-old great grandson whose swing George pronounced to be “good enough to pay for college.” Playing golf wasn’t George’s only sports addiction. You could be sure he was tuned into the Golf Channel (arm-chair quarterbacking) unless the Chiefs, Royals or Jayhawks were playing. And, although he was always a snazzy dresser, his closet was crammed with his team shirts which he rotated according to the sports calendar. George leaves five children-Cris Siebenlist (Glenn), Marge Therio, Melissa Wayne (Michael), Tony Wayne (Kitty) and Mary Jane Ecton, seven grandchildren-Mason Poole, Adam Poole, Molly Wayne, Christopher Somers, Megan Somers, John Ecton and Stoney Weaver as well as 7 great grandchildren, with the next one due near his upcoming 100th birthday. George was preceded in death by siblings Georgia Burris, Kay Jewell and Bill Todd, his first wife Marvelle Peery Todd and his second wife Francis Cheshire Todd, son George Rondell Todd, daughter Kimberly Weaver and grandson John Michael Wayne. From the approach to the follow-through, George made quite an impact. He leaves many cherished friends from teaching, coaching and golf, as well as those he met (both staff and residents) at Garden Villas of Lenexa where he lived the last 15 years. George was grateful for the respect, care and kindness he received from Elevate Hospice who enabled him to pass on his own terms and in his own bed. In many ways, it was his final “Fore!” A Celebration of Life will be held for family and close friends at 2:00pm, July 19, 2025 at the Garden Villas of Lenexa auditorium with internment and military honors at the Leavenworth National Cemetery at a later date. In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The KC Royals Foundation, Empowering Kansas City, Kansas Students or 15 And The Mahomies Foundation.

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George Franklin Todd

July 23, 1925 - June 25, 2025