Lena M. Wharton, 98, died January 15, 2012 at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend, Kansas. She was born July 5, 1913 the daughter of Henry and Mary (Stegman) Kittel. She married Roscoe Spencer Wharton July 18, 1934 at Great Bend. He died December 14, 1983. A Great Bend resident since 1983, coming from Bison, Mrs. Wharton was a homemaker and also was a meat processor for Thies Packing for twenty-five years. Mrs. Wharton was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Olmitz, Kansas, and later attended Trinity United Methodist Church, Great Bend. She enjoyed gardening and needlework. Survivors include two sons: Nelson Wharton and wife Donna, Great Bend; and Lyle "George" Wharton and wife Connie, Great Bend; daughters: Wanda Luft and husband Jack, Great Bend; and Roxie Crawford and husband John, Great Bend; one brother, Norman Kittel and wife Emilia, Lawrence, Kansas; ten grandchildren; and eighteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Dolores Anton and Geneva Smith. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Bryant Funeral Home with Father Reginald A. Urban officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2012 with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to Golden Belt Humane Society, in care of the funeral home.