Frank Edwin Colaw

Dr. Frank Edwin Colaw, 88, recently of Las Vegas, passed away April 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He was born June 13th, 1927, in Wilson County Kansas, the son of R. Kenneth and Clara (Muninger) Colaw.

Following graduation from Emporia High School in 1945, he joined the Army Air Corps serving primarily as an MP in occupied Austria. Frank earned his BA in Education from Emporia State in 1953, his Masters in Education from George Peabody (Vanderbilt) in 1955, and his Doctorate from KU in 1968.

He married Mary (Gunzelman) Colaw in 1949 in Emporia, Kansas. He later married Phyllis Louise (Campbell) Riley on June 8, 1979 in Burlington, Kansas.
Dr. Colaw began his career in Education as a teacher in Sylvan Grove and Lincoln KS from 1949 to 1953. In 1953 began teaching in the Topeka public schools and was the Principal at Van Buren Elementary, one of the five elementary schools initially desegregated under the Brown vs. The Board decision, that began the desegregation process. In 1959 he moved to Seaman HS serving as Vice Principal, Principal, and the first Seaman School District Superintendent from 1966-1969. He was Superintendent in St. Charles MO from 1969-1976, then in Melvern KS, and finally in Osage City retiring in 1989.

He is survived by two sons, John Michael Colaw and Frank Dean Colaw, Daughter in law Susan (Johnson) Colaw, three grandchildren, Cara (Colaw) Giovani, Cassandra Colaw, and Kenneth Colaw, son in law Adam Giovani, two great grandchildren, Sawyer Lynn and Reagan Rose Giovani, and niece Carolyn Murphy of Emporia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Phyllis and a brother, Ray Colaw.

He was a proud American, Kansan, Jayhawk and a champion of Public Education. He will be sorely missed by friends and family.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at the VanArsdale Funeral Chapel in Osage City, Kansas. Burial to follow at the Osage City Cemetery. Family will receive friends an hour before service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Osage County Community Foundation and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth, Osage City, KS 66523. Condolescences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.