George Saxton Receives Plaque
Mausoleum Founder Honored for Work
The Wichita Eagle: October 25, 1954
Several hundred persons visited Old Mission Mausoleum Sunday at an open house held to commemorate completion of the fourth and final unit.
George A. Saxton, builder and founder of the mausoleum, was honored for his efforts in the creation of the mausoleum. Saxton was presented a plaque by Lloyd Bump, chairman of the board of control. The plaque reads:
�A tribute in honor of George A. Saxton whose persistent efforts over a period of 36 years (1918 - 1954) have brought about the creation of Old Mission Mausoleum. It stands as a magnificent monument to the life work of its founder and builder.�
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Below is a copy of the letterhead stationary Mr. Saxton used in the 1950's.
Saxton, who also is president of the mausoleum firm, took an option on a portion of the ground at the corner of 21st Street and Hillside Avenue at the time the land was purchased for a cemetery. He later purchased the site and made preparations for the construction of the first unit of the structure which was completed in 1922. Tentative plans were made for three additional units which have been constructed.
The mausoleum is constructed of reinforced concrete faced with Indiana limestone on the outside and Vermont marble on the interior. The building has a copper roof.
J. E. Paup is vice president of the mausoleum firm. Members of the board of control are Marcellus M. Murdock, publisher: Judd Petrie, businessman: Walter Ash, air industry, and W. L. Craig is building superintendent.
George Adolphus Saxton, 84, of 285 S. Dellrose, founder of Old Mission Mausoleum, died Wednesday at Wesley Hospital.
Born at Granville Summit, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1876. Mr. Saxton came to Wichita in 1913. He attended Mansfield, Pennsylvania, Teachers College and received his B.A. degree in 1898. He was active in baseball and football at the college.
On June 27, 1906, he married Nellie A. Johnson at LeRaysville, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Saxton died in February, 1954.
Mr. Saxton was a superintendent of a number of small schools for 13 years in Pennsylvania and Nebraska.
About five years after coming to Wichita he exercised an option on ground at 21st and Hillside. It was his vision and foresight which brought about creation of Old Mission Mausoleum in 1918.
Supervises Planning In 1918 he supervised planning for construction of the first of four mausoleum units. The first unit was built in 1920-1922, the second in 1928-29, the third in 1939-40 and the fourth and final unit during 1948-50.
Mr. Saxton�s work was carried on by his employees after his retirement from active managerial duties about three years ago. He formed a corporation and gave his fellow workers shares so that his work might be carried on.
Under the guidance of Mr. Saxton, prominent Wichita attorneys and business leaders drew up a trust agreement for Old Mission Mausoleum. Under the trust a fund was established for the permanent care of the four units comprising the mausoleum.
Old Mission Mausoleum, which was dedicated in 1954, has 56 private rooms and about 3,000 crypts. Mr. Saxton was president of Old Mission Mausoleum.
Active in Civic Work He was active in civic work until his retirement about three years ago. He was a member of Kansas National Guard during the period of 1917-18.
He was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church, Wichita Rotary Club, Men�s Dinner Club and Chamber of Commerce and a charter member of Bestor G. Brown Masonic Lodge. He received a 50-year Masonic pin in 1958.
Survivors include two brothers, Henry, Granville Summit, Pennsylvania and Willis, Troy, Pennsylvania: two sisters, Mrs. C. A. (Ruby) Novak, Ottawa, Kansas, and Mrs. Clara Verbeck, Elmira, N.Y.: a niece, Mrs. J. E. (Cornelia) Paup, of the home, and a nephew, Phillip Novak, 2318 N.W. McLean Blvd.
Gill Mortuary has charge of arrangements, internment will be within Old Mission Mausoleum.
Click on image to enlarge
Funeral services for George A. Saxton, 84 of 285 S. Dellrose, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Gill Mortuary.
Mr. Saxton who founded Old Mission Mausoleum, died Wednesday.
The Rev. Dr. W. A. Young of Plymouth Congregational Church will officiate at the services. Entombment will be in Old Mission Mausoleum.
Active pallbearers will be Ben F. Kubik, Lawrence Curfman, Dr. Harry Wisner, Ray H. Mitchell, Guy Houston, and Sheldon Scott.
Honorary pallbearers will be Lloyd Bump, Stuart R. Carter, Marcellus Murdock, Lee Scott, Frank Neff, W. L. Gray, Jud Petrie, W. L. Craig and Walter B. Ash.
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Old Mission Mausoleum History
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