Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of June 1, 2011
Captain Edward William Abbot
Captain Edward William Abbot, USN (Ret) was born in Steelville, Missouri
on November 20, 1910 to Edward H. and Virginia (Bass) Abbot and passed
away Monday, May 23, 2011 at the age of 100 years.
Captain Abbot had been an official resident of El Paso since 1918. He was
a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in the class of
1933. He was a career officer in the U.S. Navy until his retirement in
El Paso in 1958. He was decorated for eight engagements with the Japanese
in World War II. During his service in the Navy, he had command of four
vessels, i.e. the battleship USS Tennessee, the destroyer USS Beatty, the
fleet tanker USS Canisteo and the heavy repair ship USS Jason. He took part
in the search for Amelia Earhart (Putnam) around Howland Island in the
Pacific in 1937. He represented the United States at the funeral of King
Christian X in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1947 and was a banquet guest of the
new King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid at the Royal Palace, Copenhagen. He
also took part in the WWII surrender process in Osaki, Japan in 1945.
He is survived by cousins in Missouri and California.
Visitation will be held from 9-10:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at
the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at the Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri.
Richard F. Adkins
Richard F. Adkins of Cuba, Missouri was born on April 21, 1933 in Hooker,
Missouri and passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2011 in Cuba, Missouri at the
age of 78 years.
Richard was a retiree of Construction Laborers’ Local No. 110, St. Louis,
Missouri and helped build many of the roads in the area. In his spare time
he enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing musical instruments, reading his
Bible, watching CNN and he was known as a great storyteller.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony Adkins and Bertha (Pierce)
Jackson; three brothers, Jimmy, Larry and Robert Jackson; three sisters,
Lucille and Roberta Jackson and Jewell Adkins.
He is survived by his wife, Joye Adkins (nee Giddens) of Cuba, Missouri;
three children, Richard “Rick” and wife Robin Adkins of Cuba, Missouri, Mike
and wife Vicky Adkins of Villa Ridge, Missouri and Delisa and husband Kevin
Graffis of Washington, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Jenni, Jeffrey and
Jammi Adkins, Melissa Kuethe, Michael Caravelli, Michael and Matthew Adkins,
Michelle Dunn and Kaleb Graffis; two great-grandchildren, Jaylynn Kuethe
and Devin Adkins; six brothers and sisters, Lee Pierce of Rolla, Missouri,
Harold Jackson of Lodi, California, Alice and Jerry Jackson of Wichita,
Kansas, Vivian Wood of Doolittle, Missouri, Ronnie Jackson of Potwin,
Kansas; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Friday, May 27, 2011 from 11 a.m. until time of
funeral service at 1 p.m. at the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri
with Pastor Virgil Nelson officiating.
Interment followed at the Harrison-Pillman Cemetery, Arlington, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
Earl Gregory Arnold Sr.
Earl Gregory Arnold, Sr. of Versailles, Missouri, formerly of Viburnum,
Missouri, was born November 16, 1928 to Cleveland Elmer and Helen (White)
Arnold in Chesterfield, Missouri and passed away Saturday, May 21, 2011 at
the Good Shepherd Care Center in Versailles, Missouri at the age of 82 years.
He was united in marriage to Lucille Halbert and to this union two children
were born.
He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1945 until 1949. He was also a
member of the VFW of Steelville and the Fraternal Order of Eagles in
Viburnum.
Earl worked at the AMAX Lead Mines in Viburnum for 13 years and retired in
1982.
In his younger days, he loved to play softball. He also enjoyed music and
playing his upright Bass. Earl was an avid Cardinal baseball fan and liked
to fish and bowl for his past time.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleveland and Helen Arnold; the
mother of his children, Lucille (Halbert) Arnold and one sister Dorthea
McKnight and husband Walter.
He is survived by his son, Chris Arnold and wife Courtney of Stover,
Missouri; one daughter, Kim Pendleton and husband Charles of Stover,
Missouri; one brother, Leroy Arnold of Mississippi; two grandchildren,
Brittany Goetz and husband Matt and Eric Emory and wife Jennifer; five
step grandchildren, Cheyenne Jones, Taylor Stanley, Chantel Estes, Adrianna
and Colten Pendelton; two great grandchildren, Emma Goetz and Benjamin Goetz;
one step great granddaughter, Aleigha Estes; sisters-in-law and
brothers-in-law, Anna Mae Fudge and Shirley Halbert of Steelville, Missouri,
Ada Marie Walls and husband Jim of Viburnum, Missouri, Mary Smith, Harold
Halbert and Horace Halbert of Cuba, Missouri, Rosalea Koehler and husband
Robert of Kennewick, Washington and Fay Ray of Linn, Missouri; other
relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at the Britton-
Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
Honoring Earl was the Missouri Patriot Guard.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at the
Assembly of God Church in Boss, Missouri with Rev. James Hedrick and
Rev. Paul Davis officiating. Special music of “Go Rest High,” “Surrounded
by Angels” and “Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone” was sung and played by
Pam Davis.
Committal prayer and interment were in the Boss Cemetery. Full military
honors were given by the U.S. Navy, Salem Walker-Roney Post #99 American
Legion and Missouri Patriot Guard.
Casket bearers were Colten Pendleton, Chas Pendleton, Mike Halbert, Buddy
Adams, Eric Emory and Matt Goetz.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of
Steelville, Missouri.
Michael Clark Branstetter
Michael Clark Branstetter of St. James, Missouri, was born December 4, 1957
in Germany and passed away Thursday, May 26, 2011 at the Phelps County
Regional Medical Center at the age of 53 years, 5 months and 23 days.
Mike, as he was known by this family and friends, was a member of the
Lord’s Church and attended at the St. James Church of Christ. He was a friend
to everyone and was always willing to help. He graduated from John F. Hodge
High School and grew up in St. James, Missouri. He and his father operated
Mikeys Small Engine in St. James, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Branstetter, in 1983.
He is survived by his parents, Don and Nancy J. (McConnaughhay) Branstetter
of St. James, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
He was in state from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday May 28, 2011 at the Jones Funeral
Home in St. James, Missouri.
Funeral service was conducted at 2 p.m. on Sunday May 30, 2011 at the Jones
Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with Lynn Huggins officiating.
Music was provided by the St. James Church of Christ singers.
Pallbearers were Dennis Branstetter, David Branstetter, Phillip Branstetter,
Larry Asten, Brian Adams and Scott Adams.
Burial was in the St. James Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James,
Missouri.
Dormalee Chew
Dormalee Chew of Cuba, Missouri was born to Floyd and Gladys (Pyatt) Green
on August 3, 1942 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away Saturday,
May 21, 2011 at Meramec Nursing Center in Sullivan, Missouri at the age of
68 years.
Dormalee was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, cleaning
house, trips to Wal-Mart, watching Soap Operas, fishing and spending time
with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Gladys Green; daughter,
Jeannie Haney; step son, Robert Chew, Jr.; two brothers, Dwight Green and
Richard Dewayne Green.
She is survived by her husband, Robert E. “Bob” Chew of Cuba, Missouri; one
son, Randy and wife Susan Chew of Leasburg, Missouri; three step children,
Donna Williams and friend Dave Rennick of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Darlene
Chew and friend Dewayne Watts of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Mike Chew and friend
Cindy Scariano of Hillsboro, Missouri; one brother, Donnie Green of
Cherryville, Missouri; four grandchildren, Austin Chew, Seriae Haney,
Crystal Haney and Robert Callahan; step grandchildren, 25 great grand-
children; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Monday, May 23, 2011 from 5-8 p.m. at Mizell Funeral
Home in Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral service was held on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Mizell
Funeral Home with Pastor Alan Amos officiating.
Interment followed at the Davisville Cemetery, Davisville, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
Christena E. Copling
Christena E. Copling of Leasburg, Missouri was born to James Jacob and Elsie
Mae (Miller) Reiner on February 4, 1931 in Leasburg, Missouri and passed
away Friday, May 27, 2011 in Leasburg, Missouri at the age of 80 years.
Christena worked many years for Sullivan Community Hospital in Sullivan,
Missouri as a Nurses Aide. She was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church.
She enjoyed flower gardening, cooking and taking care of her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Jacob and Elsie Mae Reiner;
two brothers, Robert and James Reiner; one sister, Loretta White; one
grandson, Jimmy Umfress; one great grandson, Chad Umfress; brother-in-law,
Gene Niedbalski.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Copling; two children, Robert and
wife Mary Copling and Nancy and husband James Umfress, all of Leasburg,
Missouri; one brother, Walter Reiner; one sister Barbara Niedbalski, both
of Cuba, Missouri; four grandchildren, Amy Kelly, David Copling, Travis
and Robert Umfress; eight great grandchildren, three great great
grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Sunday, May 29, 2011 from 5-8 p.m. at the Mizell
Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral was held on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Mizell Funeral
Home with Pastor Bobby Higgins officiating.
Interment followed at the Lick Creek Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
James L. Hamilton Sr.
James L. Hamilton, Sr. of Cuba, Missouri, was born on Monday,
January 25, 1926 in Cuba, Missouri to Herbert and Anna J. Steffens
Hamilton and passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at the age of 85 years,
3 months and 29 days.
James married Betty E. Weigle on March 2, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri
and to this union three children were born.
James had his own excavating business, Hamilton’s Excavating of Cuba, for
many years. He was a previous member of the Peace Lutheran Church in
Owensville, Missouri then St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cuba and recently
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbia, Missouri. His hobbies were
playing his keyboard and drums and talking on the CB radio, using the
handle, “Drummer boy.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Anna Hamilton;
brother, George (Agnus) Hamilton, sister-in-law, Hazel (Cosimo) Catanzaro;
brothers-in-law, Joseph Michalik and John West.
He is survived by his wife, Betty E. Hamilton of Cuba, Missouri; children,
Ronald A. Hamilton and James L. (Mary) Hamilton, Jr., all of Cuba, Missouri
and Cheryl A. Hamilton of Washington, Missouri; sister, Helen Michalik;
brother, Ed (Rosemary) Hamilton; sister-in-law, Catherine West, all of Cuba,
Missouri; eight grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; two great great
grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation is Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 2 p.m. and Memorial service at
3 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri with Rev. Micah Ernst
officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba,
Missouri.
Clora Jean Kramer
Clora Jean Kramer of St. James, Missouri was born in French Mills, Missouri
on November 24, 1929 to William A. and Mary W. (Baker) Miller and passed away
on May 21, 2011 at the Delmar Gardens, in O’Fallon, Missouri at the age of
81 years, 5 months and 27 days.
Clora Miller was united in marriage to Clifford James Kramer on May 9, 1952
in St. Louis, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Kramer on
December 5, 2010; parents, William and Mary Miller, father and
mother-in-law, Harry and Laura Kramer; stepmother-in-law, Ethelene Kramer,
brothers-in-law, Carsten Bowman and Harry Kramer.
She is survived by a sister, Nova Bowman; nieces, Kathleen Wynne, Donna
Jean Lewis and husband Mark; nephew, Timothy Bowman and wife Tara; great
nieces, Kristin Cento and husband Andrew, Katie Wynne, Julia Lewis, Nicole
Bowman; great nephews, Zachary and Jared Bowman and great great niece,
Sophie Wynne.
Visitation was on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 from 10 a.m. to noon at the
Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.
Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at noon at the
Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with Lynn Huggins officiating.
Pallbearers were Willie Eickhorst, Glennon Whitener, Matthew Kramer,
A.C. Harris, Tim Bowman, and Zachary Bowman.
Burial was in the family plot in the St. James Cemetery in St. James,
Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James,
Missouri.
Cleta Mae Lewis
Cleta Mae Lewis nee Dixon of Cuba, Missouri was born on Friday,
March 3, 1922 to William Harmon and Cleonia S. McEwen Dixon in Maupin,
Missouri and passed away at Cuba Manor on Friday, May 27, 2011 at the age
of 89 years, 2 months and 24 days.
Cleta married Albert Leroy Lewis on September 18, 1941 in Warrenton,
Missouri and to this union three sons were born.
Cleta worked in job placement several years and retired from the Employment
Services Department with the Missouri State Government. She was a member of
the VFW and American Legion in St. Clair, Missouri before moving to Cuba in
2001. Her hobbies were making quilts, cross-stitching, reading, fishing,
playing cards and traveling.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Cleonia Dixon;
husband, Albert; son, Stanley Lewis; brothers, Lyman (Helen) Dixon, Everett
Dixon and Darrell Dixon; sister, Hazel (Paul) Maddy; and sister-in-law,
Helen Dixon.
She is survived by her children, Ronald L. (Donna) Lewis of Cuba, Missouri
and Duane Lewis of Okeechobee, Florida; sister, Fern (Kenneth) Lynn of
St. Clair, Missouri, brothers-in-law, Michael (Luann) Ponkauski of Lonedell,
Missouri and James (Sally) Lewis of Okeechobee, Florida; six grandchildren;
one step granddaughter; six great grandchildren; three step great grand-
children; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Saturday, May 28, 2011 from 9-11 a.m. at the Hutson Funeral
Home, Cuba, Missouri.
Graveside service and burial at 12:30 p.m. at the Oak Grove Cemetery,
Lonedell, Missouri with Rev. Spencer Hutson officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba,
Missouri.
Fred Dwight Wilkinson, Sr.
Fred Dwight Wilkinson, Sr. of Cherryville, Missouri was born January 21, 1921
in Davisville, Missouri to Rev. Jessie Laban and Bessie May (Harris)
Wilkinson and passed away Friday, May 27, 2011 at the age of 90 years.
On September 17, 1942 in St. Louis, Missouri he was united in marriage to
Wilma Gladys Minks and to this union four children were born.
Fred grew up at Davisville and moved to St. Louis with his family at the
age of 16.
He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946.
Fred was saved in 1961 at Hope Assembly in St. Louis under the ministry
of Rev. Dwight Barton and was a Sunday School Superintendent at this church.
He was baptized at Barnhart, Missouri. He and Wilma’s home church has been
at Center Ridge Pentecostal Church at Davisville, Missouri.
He worked over 30 years at ITT Blackburn in St. Louis as the plant manager
and later worked at Mesker Bros. in St. Louis as the plant manager and
retiring in 1982.
Fred enjoyed vacationing with his family, traveling, camping, hunting and
fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Jessie and Bessie Wilkinson;
three brothers, Chester Wilkinson and wife Doris, infant, Luthur Wilkinson
and infant, Will Dee Wilkinson; two sisters, Leora Collier and husband Esco
and infant, Evelyn Janette Wilkinson; one grandson, Jeffery Phipps;
son-in-law, Everett Phipps; brothers-in-law, Rev. Ocie Neff, Elmer Lumley
and Rev. Herman Skaggs; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Peter Minks and
Aurelia (Hanson) Minks.
He is survived by his wife, Wilma of the home in Cherryville; one son, Fred
Dwight Wilkinson, Jr. and wife Deborah of St. Louis, Missouri; three
daughters, Madeline Carol Brandt and husband Jeff of Lakeland, Florida,
Evelyn Mae Phipps of Cherryville, Missouri and Beverly Marie Cotton and
husband George of St. Louis, Missouri; two sisters, Effie Neff of Cuba,
Missouri and Nina Skaggs of High Ridge, Missouri; five grandchildren, Rodney
Volner and wife Mary of Lakeland, Florida, Everett Phipps and wife Bridget
of Cherryville, Missouri, Darrell Phipps and wife Cindy of Union, Missouri,
Roger Boyd of St. Louis, Missouri and Christie Jo Blase and husband Eric of
St. Charles, Missouri; six great grandchildren, Christopher Volner of
Lakeland, Florida, CaSandra Boyd of St. Louis, Missouri, Brianna Phipps and
Adam Phipps of Cherryville, Missouri, Mikayla Phipps of Union, Missouri and
Aurora Blase of St. Charles, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at the Britton-Bennett
Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
A funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at the Center
Ridge Pentecostal Church at Davisville, Missouri with Pastor Harrison Brown
, Rev. Bob Coleman and Sister Ruth Callahan officiating.
Special music of “I’ll Be Looking For You,” “I’ve Never Been This Homesick
Before” and “I’ll Lay It Down and Leave It” was sung by Rev. Bob Coleman and
Carol Coleman accompanied on piano by Shirley Brown. Other special music
of “When I Leave” written by Charles D. Brown was sung and played by him.
The music of “Going Home” was also sung and played by Everett and Bridget
Phipps.
Committal prayer and interment was in the Martin-Trask Cemetery at
Cherryville, Missouri with full military honors.
Casket bearers were Rodney Volner, Roger Boyd, Everett Phipps, Darrell
Phipps, Jeff Brandt and Eric Blasé.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home,
Steelville, Missouri.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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