William Bobalik

William Bobalik was born Feb. 21, 1926, in Whiting, Indiana. He died surrounded by family at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at the age of 95. He was born to Peter and Mary (Jambik) Bobalik, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia after World War I. William had five siblings: John, George, Helen, Mary and Joe. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Royce Marie Bobalik, and four daughters: Sheila Savage (Bill), Marsha Smith (Rodney), Sandra Dietrich, and Dianna Davidson (Carl). He has four grandchildren: Tres Savage, Amber Aldridge (Greg), Annie Sauber (Nathan), and Will Davidson (Adreane). He is survived by nine great-grandchildren.

Known as “Bill” by friends, he was a World War II veteran, discharging from the U.S. Army Air Corps as a staff sergeant after serving as a gunner on a B-29. He settled in Wichita following the war and worked at Pearce-Turk Dental Laboratories for 44 years, starting his career by traveling the region as a client representative for dental offices across Kansas and neighboring states. He enjoyed bringing his daughters gifts from the communities he visited. He later served as a supervisor for Pearce-Turk.

After retiring in March 1990, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, grilling, gardening, playing blackjack and traveling with his soulmate, Royce. For many years, they would spend winter months in South Padre Island, Texas, where they would fish, walk the beach and buy “Cuban” cigars that lived up to their billing about half of the time.

A graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Winfield. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Catholic Charities.