Richard Ray Fairbank, 80, passed away on July 17, 2026, at the Kansas Soldiers’ Home in Fort Dodge, Kansas. He was born on December 13, 1945, in Garden City, Kansas, to Elmer Danfurd and Velma Mae (Willour) Fairbank.

Rich graduated from Ransom High School in 1963 and later attended El Dorado Community College. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Ransom VFW Post 7972 and Brownell American Legion Sunley-Squier Post 382.

On March 1, 1969, Rich married the love of his life, Wilma June Walker, in Ransom, Kansas. Together they built a life centered on family and raised their three children: Smokey, Tracy, and Trey.

After graduating from the Missouri Auctioneering School, Rich established Fairbank Auction in 1980, where he became well known throughout the area. Later, from 1991 until 2014, he was affectionately known as "The Ice Cream Man" while delivering for Schwan’s Food Service, bringing smiles to countless families along his route.

Rich is survived by his wife, June, of Fort Dodge; his two sons, Smokey Ray Fairbank and wife, Debbie, of Ransom, and Trey Fairbank and wife, Harlie, of Dodge City; his daughter, Tracy Lynn of England, Arkansas; two brothers, Stan Fairbank of Casper, Wyoming, and Rod Fairbank and wife, Michelle, of Hays; six grandchildren, Hailey (Tristan) Ptacek, Ashanti (Peter) Joseph, Bridgett (Jeremy) Huish, Niahmyah Fairbank, Rhyan Fairbank, and Axl Ray Fairbank; and seven great-grandchildren, Simon Ptacek, Gracie and Camden Huish, Adilynn and Ashtyn Turner, Amir Ahmed, and Adelson Joseph.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Ransom Methodist Church, followed by burial with military graveside honors at Ransom Cemetery. Guests are requested to wear, if they wish, a Hawaiian shirt, Racing Shirt, or a Referee shirt.

Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., with family present to receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Soldiers’ Home or Ransom VFW Post 7972.

Memories and words of support may be shared with the family by signing the guest book at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

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