Individual Details

Death

Prof. Manford W. Furr, 53, of the civil engineering department at Kansas State college and a civic leader died at his home at 1426 Humboldt street at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Death was attributed to a heart ailment. Professor Furr became ill on the night of Friday, October 31, but recovered so that he had been taking care of his classes at the college during the past 10 days. Professor Furr came to Kansas State college as an instructor in civil engineering in September,1917, and was advanced to the rank of full professor in 1927. He had been active in civic affairs in Manhattan, having served for a number of years on the city planning commission. He long was active as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and had served on C. of C. committees. He was a member of the First Christian church here and had served as church treasurer and as a deacon. He also was a member of the Manhattan Country club. Professor Furr was born on a farm near Veedersburg, Ind., August 24. 1888. He received the degree of bachelor of science in civil engineering in 1913 and the degree of civil engineer in 1925 at Purdue university. He received the master of science degree in civil engineering at Kansas state college in 1926. He was a specialist in highway engineering in which he did special research work and had had years of experience in this field with the highway commissions of South Dakota and Kansas and in other organizations. Professor Furr was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Kansas Engineering Society and the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education. He served as president of the Kansas Section of the A.S.C.E. and as chairman of several committees in the S.P.E.E. He also was a member of the American Road Builders’ association; Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Tau. He has been chairman of the college committee on student honors and was faculty advisor for the student chapter of ASCE. Professor Furr wrote numerous pamphlets and bulletins on civil engineering. He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Lela Furr of the home; his mother. Mrs. Eva J. Furr and a sister, Mary E. Furr, both of Greenfield, Ind., and a brother, Omer Furr, LaPorte, Ind. Prof. R. G. Kloeffler, head of the department of electrical engineering at the college and a colleague of Professor Furr paid this tribute: “Professor Furr had a host of friends and admirers among his faculty colleagues, his students, the business men Manhattan and the members of his church. He represented the fine type of American citizen through his loyalty to the state, to his community and all institutions with which he was associated. His unusual sense of duty and his industry set a fine example for the hundreds of students who have attended his classes.” Funeral services will be held at the Courser-Mast Funeral home at 10 a. m. Tuesday. The Rev. J. David Arnold, pastor of the First Christian church, will be in charge. Interment will be at Veedersburg, Ind. The body will lie in state at the Courser-Mast Funeral home after 7 o'clock tonight until time for the services.
The Manhattan Mercury, Manhattan, Kansas, November 17, 1941