Doris Elaine Giltner (Bedwell)

Doris Giltner, 87, of Lee’s Summit, MO passed away November 24, 2019. A visitation will be held from 10-11:00 a.m. followed by an 11:00 a.m. memorial service on Saturday, December 7, at 39th St. Community of Christ Congregation. Doris was born on February 7, 1932 to Ellis and Elsie (Wooten) Bedwell. Since there was no hospital in their hometown of Lamoni, Iowa, her mother came to Independence, Mo. and stayed in the home of Apostle Lewis, of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Doris was born in the Church owned hospital, known as “the San”. They returned to Lamoni when she was about 6 days old. She continued to live in Lamoni and began her schooling there. Living there until she was 11 years old, when the family moved to Wichita, Kansas, in1943, where her father began working for the Boeing Aircraft Co.
Doris was an excellent student and an over achiever, she was advanced to the fifth grade in the middle of her fourth grade year. She graduated from Plainview High School in Wichita in l949.
Doris attended Graceland College in the l949-50 school year, and then married her high school sweet heart, Welton Foster, on August 8th 1950. She worked in the Administration office at Graceland the following year to help support her husband as he continued his education. In 1951 their home was blessed by a baby girl, whom they named Cheryl Ann. Shortly before her arrival the family moved back to Wichita where they made their family home. She began to teach piano lessons to supplement family income. She continued to teach many children for over 20 years.
In 1959 her second child was born, a son who was named Michael Leonard. Sadly, this marriage ended in l962, and Doris became the sole breadwinner for her little family of three. In the Summer of l963, at a newly organized social club, called Parents Without Partners meeting, she met Roy Giltner, a father of four boys, ages 4 to 10. After dating for only a few months, they were married in the Spring of l964 in the Community of Christ church in Wichita. Her little family of three, with two children, suddenly grew to a family of eight with six children. She now had children who were 5,6,9,10,12, and 13. Of course, there were no new children to come from this marriage. She was very instrumental in bringing about the baptism of both her husband and all of her children.
Doris nurtured and mothered her new extended family until all had graduated from high school and three of them had College degrees. She continued this nurturing until the day she passed.
In 1982, Roy and Doris decided to move to Independence, Miissouri. A place she always wanted to live. Her mother Elsie Bedwell also moved with them and made her home with them until her death in 1989. The Giltners quickly made their church home with the E 39th Street Congregation. Doris, whose very life was personified by music, became involved in the choir, playing the piano and organ for services, teaching classes and helping in a variety of other activities of the church. She directed the choir for 17 years. She was ordained an Elder in 1996. Doris and her husband were elected co-pastors in 2002 and served in that capacity for four years until 2006.
When the Giltners arrived in Independence in 1982, she began working for the World Church Headquarters, in the legal department. After two years she had an opportunity to move into the financial division of the Presiding Bishopric. She served in that position for 18 years until her retirement in January of 2001, serving four different Presiding Bishops during that span of time. She thoroughly enjoyed her time spent in that position.
Doris is survived by her husband Roy, married for over 55 years, four children, Cherie Bliss and her husband Larry of Liberty, Missouri, Mike Foster and his wife Brenda of Independence, Missouri. Doyle Giltner, of Wichita, Kansas, Randy Giltner and his wife Nancy of Derby, Kansas. She is also survived by five grandchildren and 14 great grand-children. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Ellis and Elsie Bedwell—and two sons, Gary Giltner in l998 at the age of 46 and Wesley Giltner in 2014, at the age of 55. She is survived by one brother, Bill and his wife Judy, of Castle Rock, Colorado. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces, and many of her loyal E 39th church friends.
Some other little known facts about Doris Giltner.
-She enjoyed “snow birding” in Texas and Alabama
-She enjoyed traveling and cruises, to Alaska, The Bahamas, Panama Canal.
-She played her first full church service at the age of 12
-She directed her first adult choir at the age of 15
-She sang in the Independence Messiah Choir for 21 years
-She sang with the choir in Carnegie Hall in New York City.
-She traveled with and sang with the choir in England and Wales
-She enjoyed the arts of painting and needle work
-and finaly she did not like to cook, and she did not eat chicken or peas.
Doris’ health began to deteriorate over the past few months. She went to be with her heavenly Father on the 24th of November 2019. She left this realm of life into her eternal privileged awaiting for her at the age of 87 years, 9 months, and 17 days. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, co-workers, and all who knew her. (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)