Marie P. Davis
1925-1999
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Marie P. (Robinson) Davis, 73, Leavenworth, formerly of St. Joseph, died Sunday, April 11, 1999, at her residence.
Born in Leavenworth on Sept. 30, 1925, Mrs. Davis lived most of her life in Leavenworth.
A homemaker, she attended the Holy Epiphany School in Leavenworth. She was a member of St. Casimir Catholic Church, where she served as a lay eucharist minister and was active in the Altar Society; and Andrew Newton American Legion Post No. 94, both of Leavenworth.
On Jan. 11, 1940, she married Lester J. Davis Sr. in Leavenworth. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Davis was preceded in death by a son, Lester J. Jr.; a daughter, Kathryn A. Davis-Burton; her parents, Bennie and Mattie Robinson; and a grandchild.
Additional survivors: two sisters, Barbra Dixon, Leavenworth, and Betty J. Bullock, St. Joseph; five grandchildren, including a granddaughter, Veronica Allen, Leavenworth, who had cared for her; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Friday, St. Casimir Catholic Church, Leavenworth. Burial: Leavenworth National Cemetery. Family visitation: 6 to 8 tonight at the Beldon-Sexton-Sumpter Funeral Chapels, Leavenworth, where a rosary will be recited at 7 tonight. Also arrangements: Bullock Family Chapel, St. Joseph.
F. Margaret Kucharski
1943-1999
HESPERIA, Calif. -- Florence Margaret (Vasquez) Kucharski, 55, Hesperia, formerly of St. Joseph, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, at a hospital in Fontana, Calif.
Mrs. Kucharski was a nurse's aide at the former Sister's Hospital in St. Joseph.
Born in Chanute, Kan., on April 24, 1943, she was reared in St. Joseph and moved to California in 1970. She was a graduate of Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph.
Mrs. Kucharski was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church and was a volunteer for the Salvation Army, both in Hesperia.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jose Vasquez.
Surviving: her husband, Gerald M. of the home; five sons, Joseph Gutierrez, Raytown, Mo., and Danny W., Gerald II and Christopher Kucharski, and Manuel Gutierrez, all of California; two daughters, Elena M. Croul, California, and Teresa Tune, Phoenix; her mother and stepfather, Erma and Tony Carrion, St. Joseph; a brother, Manuel Juarez, St. Joseph; two sisters, Maria M. Lux, St. Joseph, and Josie Torres, Mesa, Ariz.; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial Mass: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, St. James Catholic Church, St. Joseph. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Feb. 5 at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Hesperia. Burial was in Sunset Hills Memorial at Apple Valley, Calif. Memorials may be made to the Lupus Foundation.
Gilbert Aguilar
1915-1999
Gilbert Aguilar, 84, St. Joseph, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at his home.
Mr. Aguilar worked for the Chrysler Corp., Detroit, and later worked for International Telephone and Telegraph, retiring in 1980.
Born Jan. 20, 1915, in Pueblo, Colo., he grew up and attended high school in Detroit. He went on to attend Chrysler Institute of Engineering, receiving a degree in automotive and body design.
Mr. Aguilar was a member of United Auto Worker's C.I.O. and United Electrical Union.
In 1950, he married Gertrude C. Baclawski. After their marriage, they lived in Detroit until 1990, when they moved to St. Joseph. She survives of the home.
Mr. Aguilar was preceded in death by his parents, Estanislado and Luz.
Additional survivors: a son, Joseph, Detroit; and two grandchildren.
Graveside service and burial: 3 p.m. today, Stewartsville, Mo., Cemetery. Arrangements: Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower, Mo.
Fern M. Anthony
1935-1999
Fern Marie (Valentine) Anthony, 64, St. Joseph, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at a St. Joseph health-care center.
Mrs. Anthony, a homemaker, was a member of the Catholic faith.
Born Feb. 28, 1935, in St. Joseph, she lived her entire life in the St. Joseph area.
Mrs. Anthony was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy; her parents, Thomas and Marie Valentine; two sisters, Margaret Baublit and Leatha Valentine; a half sister, Lorraine Brown; and a brother, Thomas Valentine.
Survivors: three sisters, Martha J. Burns, Anna Corcoran and Virginia Jagodzinski, all of St. Joseph; and a half sister, Pearl Pittman, St. Joseph.
Graveside service and burial: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation: after noon today, Rupp Funeral Home, St. Joseph.
Velma B. Conz
1911-1999
MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Velma Bessie (White) Conz, 87, Maryville, formerly of Parnell, Mo., died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Mrs. Conz, a homemaker, was a resident of Maryville since 1969.
Born on Nov. 6, 1911, in Maryville, she was a graduate of Horace Mann High School, Maryville.
Mrs. Conz was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. She also was a member of the Maryville Lasher Club and the Pickering/Bloomdale (Mo.) Willing Workers.
On March 1, 1930, she married Kenneth W. Conz in St. Joseph. He died in 1995.
Mrs. Conz also was preceded in death by a son, Erlin H.; her parents, Ralph and Nora B. White; and a brother, Forrest White.
Surviving: a daughter, Arvetta Wilson, Pickering; two brothers, Donald White, Burlington Junction, Mo., and Merle White, Hopkins, Mo.; a sister, Vera Owens, Maryville; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Price Funeral Home, Maryville. Burial: Nodaway Memorial Gardens, Maryville. Visitation: after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Wilma Franklin
1912-1999
Wilma (Shandrew) Franklin, 87, Princeton, died Friday, April 9, 1999, at a Bethany, Mo., hospital.
Born Jan. 23, 1912, near Mill Grove, Mo., Mrs. Franklin was a lifelong resident of Mercer County, Mo. She attended East High Point Rural School.
She was a member of the Princeton First Baptist Church.
On April 12, 1930, she married Silvia S. Franklin. He died in 1983.
Mrs. Franklin also was preceded in death by a foster son, Bricey Johnson; her parents, Leon and Winnie E. Shandrew; and three brothers, Claude, Earl and Benny Shandrew.
Surviving: a son, Bill, Princeton; two sisters, Thelma Sparks, Princeton, and Phyllis Torrey, Kansas City; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Service: 1 p.m. today, Princeton First Baptist Church. Burial: Princeton Cemetery. Arrangements: Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Service, Princeton. Memorial contributions may be sent to Princeton First Baptist Church Bus Fund, 1000 E. Main St., Princeton, MO 64673.
Norma D. Hickman
1916-1999
SPICKARD, Mo. -- Norma D. (Evans) Hickman, 82, Spickard, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at a Kansas City hospital.
Mrs. Hickman taught at Mercer County, Mo., rural schools including Calvert, Lone Star and Pilot Knob. She also taught Head Start school in Trenton, Mo. She then taught at Spickard School, later becoming principal. She retired in 1983.
Born May 28, 1916, east of Spickard, she was a graduate of Spickard High School. She went on to graduate from Trenton (Mo.) Junior College and later received her bachelor's degree from Northwest Missouri State University-Maryville.
Mrs. Hickman was a member of the Missouri State Teachers' Association; Grundy County (Mo.) Retired Teachers' Association; and Spickard United Methodist Church.
On Dec. 24, 1940, she married Denver Hickman in Trenton.
Mrs. Hickman was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Anna Evans; a brother, Wayne Evans; and a sister, Gladys Kennedy.
Surviving: a daughter, Karen A. Lynch, Spickard; two sons, Russell W., Keller, Texas, and Richard D., Northport, N.Y.; and six grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Spickard United Methodist Church. Burial: Masonic Cemetery, Spickard. Family visitation: 7 to 8 tonight, Wise and Slater Funeral Chapel, Spickard.
Larry D. Hinton
1944-1999
Larry D. Hinton, 54, St. Joseph, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at a local hospital.
Mr. Hinton was employed as sales manager with Home Oil Co. for 19 years. Before that, he was employed with Texaco Oil as an area district manager.
Born Sept. 4, 1944, in Leavenworth, Kan., he spent his early years in St. Joseph. After moving away, he returned to St. Joseph 20 years ago.
Mr. Hinton was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Joseph Archeology Society, and Oilmen's Club, all of St. Joseph. He was a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University-Maryville, where he received a bachelor's degree in marketing.
On June 30, 1967, he married Sharon Thompson in St. Joseph. She survives of the home.
Mr. Hinton was preceded in death by his father Lewis J. Hinton.
Additional Survivors:a son, Brian, St. Joseph; a daughter, Kimberly, Kansas City; his mother Marie, St. Joseph; a brother, Carl, St. Joseph; a sister, Ann Crabtree, St. Joseph; and a grandchild.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph. Family visitation: 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home.
Merlin D. Huber
1929-1999
Merlin D. Huber, 69, St. Joseph, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Born May 29, 1929, in Powhattan, Kan., he lived for a time in Hiawatha, Kan., where he graduated from Hiawatha High School. He later attended Highland (Kan.) Junior College and Washburn University, Topeka, Kan. He moved to St. Joseph in 1952.
Mr. Huber was employed with the former Beckley Motors, and Moose Davis Motors, both of St. Joseph. He then was employed with the former Noma Lites, as a cost analyst, until that firm moved its corporate operations to Chicago. He was then employed with the former Phillips-Roxanne, now Boehringer-Ingleheim, St. Joseph, until retiring in 1986.
Mr. Huber, a former St. Joseph City Council candidate, portrayed St. Joseph founder Joseph Robidoux at many schools and festivals in the area. He served as volunteer coordinator for the St. Joseph Trails West! Festival and was a member of the Southside Lions Club, earning that group's Man of the Year Award. He also was a member of the St. Joseph Stamp Collectors Club, St. Joseph Postcard Club; St. Joseph Youth Alliance; Joyce Rae Patterson Senior Citizens Center; St. Joseph Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons; St. Joseph State Hospital Board; South St. Joseph Progressive Association; and the St. Joseph Historical Society. He was the only male member of the South Side Business Women's Club and was a member of the League of Women Voters.
Mr. Huber won the first J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award; the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award; Inter/Serv's Person of the Year; Missouri State Senior Volunteer; and in 1992 was named among the St. Joseph News-Press "Twenty Who Count."
Mr. Huber tutored students at the East Side Human Resource Center, and Bode Middle School. He also served as a volunteer tax preparer for senior citizens and disabled individuals, and delivered food to home-bound residents through Meals-On-Wheels Program. In addition, he was a member of the City Beautiful Commission and the Friends of the Park; Southside Festival Committee; nutrition board of the Calvin Center; and the nutrition council for Northwest Missouri Division of Aging.
He was a Christian.
In 1952, he married Betty J. Whitt. She died in 1989.
He also was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Mahala.
Surviving: his fiancee, Marian McCollum of the home; two brothers, Darrel J., St. Joseph, and Paul, Kinsley, Kan.
Service: 10 a.m. Thursday, Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph. Burial: Brown Cemetery, Gallatin, Mo. Family visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, where friends may call after 9 a.m. Wednesday. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Lion's Club sight conservation program or a charity of the donor's choice.
Lola A. Bales
1914-1999
Lola Audrey (Phillips) Bales, 84, St. Joseph, died Sunday, April 11, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Mrs. Bales was employed by the Hoof and Horn restaurant for 24 years and then the St. Joseph Country Club for 12 years. She also was a customer service representative for the Evergreen Kennels until retiring.
Born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Dec. 25, 1914, she lived most of her life in St. Joseph. She was a high school graduate and of the Pentecostal faith.
Mrs. Bales was preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. Walter and Flossie Phillips; and three sisters, Rita Slagle, Effiestaline Phillips and Bernice Craig.
Surviving: two daughters, Sibyl Eckles and Jean Bales, both of St. Joseph; two brothers, the Rev. Paul Phillips, Grants Pass, Ore., and Norman Phillips, Banning, Calif.; a sister, Doris Hobbs, St. Joseph; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Rupp Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph. Family visitation: 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
B. O'Neil Buetzer
1916-1999
MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Blaine O'Neil Buetzer, 82, Maryville, formerly of Graham and Maitland, Mo., died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at a health-care center in Maryville.
Mr. Buetzer had farmed in the Graham and Maitland areas, and drove a school bus for the Nodaway-Holt School System in his early years. He worked for Uniroyal in Maryville until retiring.
Born in Redfield, S.D., on July 20, 1916, he was reared in Clayton, Kan., and lived in the Graham and Maitland areas for 33 years before moving to Maryville.
He was a graduate of the Clayton high school and a member of the United Methodist Church in Maitland.
On Nov. 23, 1937, he married Geraldine I. Moore in St. Joseph. She survives.
Mr. Buetzer was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer B. and Ella M.; a sister, Beverly Wiley; and a half brother, Daryl J. Spear.
Additional survivors: two sons, Doyle O., Bethany, and Richard A., Dunbar, Neb.; a half sister, Bonita Gibson, Idaho Falls, Idaho; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday, United Methodist Church, Maitland. Burial: Prairie Home Cemetery, Graham. Visitation: after 10 a.m. today at the Johnson Funeral Home, Maitland, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight. Memorials may be made to the Northwest Missouri chapter of the Alzheimers Association.
O.V. Cecil
1909-1999
PLATTE CITY, Mo. -- O.V. Cecil, 89, Platte City, died Sunday, April 11, 1999, at a health-care center in Riverside, Mo.
Mr. Cecil, a farmer, also owned and operated the Toonerville in Beverly, Mo. He also was the zoning director for the Platte County, Mo., Zoning Commission and a salesman for Tony Martens Dodge at Platte City.
Born in East Leavenworth, Mo., on April 28, 1909, he was a lifelong resident of Platte County. He served in the Marine Corps.
Mr. Cecil was a member of the Weston, Mo., Christian Church; Platte City Lodge No. 504, A.F.&A.M.; Moila Shrine Temple and its associated bodies, St. Joseph; and S.A.R. He also was a 4-H Club leader and poet laureate of Platte City.
On April 7, 1934, he married Ada M. Price in Beloit, Kan. She survives of the home.
Mr. Cecil was preceded in death by a brother, Jack.
Additional survivors: a son, William V., Plattsburg, Mo.; and two grandchildren.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Rollins Funeral Home, Platte City. Burial: Graceland Cemetery, Weston. Family visitation: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Weston Christian Church.
