Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week updated November 2, 2006 Ruth Ann Cloninger Ruth Ann Cloninger of Cuba, Missouri was born December 14, 1929 at St. Louis, Missouri to the union of Victor Thomas Cleary and Alice Katherine (nee Dwyer) Cleary and left from this life on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at Rolla, Missouri at the age of 76 years 10 months and 11 days. Ruth was united in marriage to Warren Dean Cloninger on July 11, 1949 at Holy Cross Catholic Church of Cuba, Missouri and to this union four children were born: David, Terry, Denise and Patricia. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Warren Dean Cloninger; her parents, Victor Thomas and Alice Katherine Cleary; one sister, Geraldine Markley; two brother-in-laws, Cecil Markley and Larry Kapeller; and one grandson, Christopher Cloninger. Those who are left to mourn her passing is her son, David Cloninger of Anchorage, Alaska; three daughters, Terry and husband Mark Jonas of Hollywood, Florida, Denise Cloninger of St. Louis, Missouri and Patricia and husband Vincent DeMarco of Cuba, Missouri; one sister, Alice Kapeller of Rolla, Missouri; seven grandchildren, T.J., Jason, Victor, David, Danielle, Stacey and Lydia; five great grandchildren, Taylor, Ryan, Madelyne, Kyle and Amarra; relatives and friends. Visitation was held Monday, October 30, 2006 from 3-6 p.m. at Britton Funeral Home, Cuba. Memorial service was Monday, October 30, 2006 at 6 p.m. with Rev. David Veit and Pastor Gary Mace officiating. Special music played by Darlene Cape. Britton Funeral Home of Cuba is honored to be caring for the Cloninger family. John Franklin Eaton John Franklin Eaton was born October 16, 1932, to the union of John E. Eaton and Orene (Martin) Eaton, in Crawford County. On July 12, 1952 at the First Baptist Church of Cherryville he was united in marriage to Wilma Sumner and to this union two children were born. John departed this life Sunday, October 22, 2006, at his home in Republic, Missouri with his wife of 54 years by his side. It was a fairy tale marriage and there has never been a greater love between two people. John was a US Army Veteran of the Korean War. He lived most of his working life in House Springs, Missouri, retiring from General Motors after 30 years. He enjoyed 20 years of retirement living at Lake of the Ozarks, Lee's Summit, Ft. Myers, Florida, Springfield, and Republic. He loved people, basketball and Krispy Kremes (not necessarily in that order). He never met a stranger and maintained friendships for life. He played basketball in high school, enjoyed watching his son play basketball and held season tickets to MSU's Lady Bears and Drury's Panthers. He followed most of the local high school and community college teams within a 50 mile radius. He also loved golf and, when basketball season ended, he and Wilma could be seen playing golf at their Island Green golf course home. They were the first Island Green "settlers" in 2000, choosing the signature hole for their backyard view. Who knew that would be the hole where he would get his first and only hole-in-one? When he wasn't playing, he was sitting on the back porch watching the golfers and snacking on one of his wife's homemade pies. If it's true that you are what you eat, then he had to be the sweetest man who ever lived! He was full of life, always on the go and in a hurry to get there. He was an hour early for every game and could play a four-hour round of golf in under three. The speed and swiftness of his untimely death was, therefore, not out of character. In addition to his parents, one brother, Edwin Eaton, preceded him in death. Those whom remain to mourn his passing are his loving wife, Wilma of the home; one son, Randy and his wife, Marcella of Lee's Summit, Missouri; one daughter, RoxAnn Sharpe and husband, Don of Republic, Missouri; two grandsons, Josh Eaton of Livonia, Michigan, and Jon Eaton of Las Vegas, Nevada. His mother-in-law, Effie Sumner of Arnold, Missouri; three sisters, Mary Kreamalmeyer of Edwardsville, Illinois, Mona and Harry DuLany of St. Clair, Missouri and Melba and Joe Martin of Bourbon, Missouri; many nieces, nephews and dear friends. Family and friends will celebrate John's life on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at the Bourbon Community Center from 2-5 p.m. A celebration at the Island Green Golf Club is planned in the near future. Ernest George Whalen Sr. Ernest George Whalen Sr., 76, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away Saturday, October 14, 2006. Mr. Whalen was born March 15, 1930, in Steelville, Missouri, to Earl and Charlotte Whalen. He married Evelyn Tucker Ellis on May 28, 1948. In his early years, he farmed in the Umbarger and Canyon area. Later in life, he worked in the furniture business in the Amarillo area and also for Cains Coffee Co. He was an avid animal lover and enjoyed working in his yard. Ernest greatly loved his family and was their "Rock." He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Loretta Whalen, Earlene Young and Melba Offield; and a brother, Dan Whalen. He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Sally Bell, Kathy Whalen and Lila Hamby and husband Buddy, all of Amarillo, Texas; two sons, Ernest Whalen Jr. and wife Diana of Amarillo, Texas and Johnny Ellis and wife Sharon of Robstown, Texas. Four sisters, Ellen Craig of Amarillo, Texas, Sue Ross of Pueblo, Colorado, Patricia Whalen and friend Mazel Thomas of Santa Monica, California, and Agnes Sanders of Steelville, Missouri; four brothers, Gary Whalen of Poland, New York, Raymond Whalen of Madison, Alabama, Patrick Whalen of El Paso, Texas and Roger Whalen of Santa Ana, California; seven grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. October 16, 2006 at the funeral home. Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church with Sean Robinson, pastor, officiating. Burial was in the Memorial Park Cemetery by Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ==================================================================== Copyright. 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