Urbin 'Shorty' Wolkensdorfer

Urbin 'Shorty' Wolkensdorfer

WRAY, Colo. -- Urbin "Shorty" Wolkensdorfer, 84, died Thursday (Jan. 17, 2002) at Cedar Dale Rest Home in Wray.

He was born Aug. 14, 1917, to Paul and Mary Wolkensdorfer in Herndon.

He served in the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Division in the Third Army under General George Patton. He was awarded the Purple Heart for a wound sustained Dec. 23, 1944, in the Battle of the Bulge in Luxemburg, France. He was honorably discharged on April 26, 1946.

He married Mary Louise Fish May 31, 1941. He spent most of his life working on ranches in Colorado before the couple retired in Wray.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister; and one brother.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou; three daughters, Janice and husband, Lyndell Salmans of Vona, Colo., Margie and husband, Jim Scriven of Englewood, Colo., and Theresa and husband, Glen Wilcox of Orchard, Colo.; two sons, Dennis John "Jack" and wife, Diana Wolkensdorfer of Scott City, Kan., and Joseph and wife, Cherie Wolkensdorfer of Englewood; sister, Gertrude Castiglia of San Francisco, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was Monday at the Spellman Funeral Home, with cremation following.

Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home of Wray was in charge of arrangements.