Harry "Hap" Dee Bledsoe

H.D. ""Hap"" Bledsoe passed away of congestive heart failure on October 11, 2018 in Las Vegas with his wife of 20 years Cynthia, by his side. He was 95 years young and led a full and active life until the very end. Hap is preceded in death by his parents, and Mary Lou Bledsoe and Annie Schultz Bledsoe, sister Lena Caldwell and his son Greg Bledsoe. He is survived by his wife Cynthia, sister Frances Cassinelli, daughter Mary Bollinger, son Tom Bledsoe, stepdaughters Rae Ann Angelo, Vicki Braun, Donna Floyd and Patti Tasker, stepson Jimmy Schultz, 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Hap was a developer, civic leader and philanthropist and had a deep love for Wichita, his home for nearly fifty years as well as after his retirement Coronado and Las Vegas.
Hap was born on July 21, 1923 in Grandfield, OK. His family migrated to San Diego, CA during the Great Depression where he graduated from Sweetwater High School with honors in sports. World War II was underway and knowing the draft was imminent, Hap joined the Merchant Marines. On Christmas Eve of 1943, he departed for training and 5 months later was deployed on a Liberty ship to the Pacific. He sailed on many ships during his time in the service but the trip that marked his life forever was escorting the first wounded returning from Guadalcanal to San Francisco. Witnessing the traumas of war first hand planted a seed deep within him to leave society better for having lived.
In 1946, Hap returned to San Diego to begin civilian life. He quickly discovered his talent for sales and recognized that opportunities are always available to those who are willing to learn and work hard. Just as his new business venture was getting off the ground, Hap was diagnosed with tuberculosis, most likely contracted while in the service. At that time there was no known cure. Hap checked into a TB sanitarium as part of an experimental program which became the very program that discovered the cure for TB.
After recovering his health, Hap again needed a fresh start in life and answered an ad for a pre-need sales person at Resthaven Memorial Park in Dallas. It couldn't have been a better fit. Sales became Hap's field of excellence and his lifetime career in the cemetery industry started. In 1954, Hap relocated to Wichita, Kansas and founded Resthaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery and eventually Resthaven Mortuary. Beginning with an empty wheat field and a lot of determination, Resthaven grew to become a landmark in the Wichita community, a special place of remembrance for loved ones. Hap held a special place in his heart for veterans and civil servants lost in the line of duty. Each Memorial Day the cemetery hosts a special celebration to honor men and women who served our country.
Another of Hap's hallmarks was his strong desire to give back to the people and industry that had welcomed him so warmly. He had a passion to train and motivate business leaders and became a popular speaker. For 22 years he served on the Board of Directors of the National Cemetery Association (later renamed International Cemetery and Funeral Association), was elected Association President in 1978, was a member of the Toppers Club and eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In addition to his work in the cemetery industry, Hap was involved in community service throughout his life. He founded and served with many organizations over the years including the Wichita Committee of 100, Wichita Crime Commission, Wichita Chamber of Commerce, West Kiwanis Club of Wichita, Wichita West Branch YMCA, Sedgwick County Zoological Society, Masonic Lodge and Shrine of Wichita, Wichita State University Barton Society, the American Heart Association and Starkey School.
In 1997, Hap retired and moved to Las Vegas where he spent 6 months of the year as his home base and Coronado California the other 6 months of the year where he enjoyed golfing, boating and a relentless pursuit of stock market investments. Some of his most enjoyed recreational adventures over the years included hunting elk with Neil Armstrong, fishing around the world from the Bering Sea to Costa Rica and collecting bronze art and paintings. One of his greatest joys was watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up and sharing pearls of wisdom from his experiences.
Hap loved people and rarely met a stranger. He was never one to remember names, but he never forgot a joke. There was a story or memory for every occasion. With that in mind, we share his favorite toast, ""May the hinges of friendship never rust, nor the wings of love lose a feather.""
A memorial service to celebrate Hap's life will be held at Resthaven Gardens of Memory 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, Kansas on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 1:00 PM.
Future memorial services will be scheduled at a later date for Coronado and Las Vegas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the following organizations:
Wichita Committee of 100
Starkey Inc. (Starkey Boys & Girls Club)
Sedgwick County Zoo
American Merchant Marine Veterans.
ICCFA Education Fund

Memorial Contributions

Wichita Committee of 100
Wichita, KS  

Starkey Inc. (Starkey Boys & Girls Club)
4500 W. Maple
Wichita, KS  67209


Sedgewick County Zoo
5555 W. Zoo Blvd
Wichita, KS  67212