Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Captain Orvil Burdan, 87
Sep 7, 2006
Orvil Burdan was born Feb. 5, 1919, in Bertha, Mo., down on Bryant Creek.
He died Aug. 13, 2006, in Talisay, Cebu, Philippines, after a long illness. He was the son of Delbert and Victoria Burdan.
Orvil had four older sisters, Cleo, Annie, Opal, and Alta, and one twin brother, Norvil. Orvil graduated from Ava High School in 1939.
Orvil joined the Navy on Sept. 27, 1939. He was on the West Virginia which sank at Pearl Harbor and was also at the Battle of Midway. Orvil served in the Atlantic, hunting German submarines and escorting convoys to England, and ended World War II in Tokyo Bay, where he witnessed (via “long glass”) the Japanese surrender to MacArthur.
Orvil finished the war as a chief petty officer. Orvil was also present at Operation Crossroads, the first postwar atomic tests which took place in the Bikini Atoll.
After the war, Orvil owned a couple of businesses in California and a small farm in Missouri, but he was never happy with civilian life. He went back to sea, entering Military Sealift Command in 1950, serving almost immediately during the Korean War. Orvil continued to travel throughout the world: Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. He recalled among his happiest days being stationed in Japan in the 1950s.
Orvil rose through the ranks and was promoted to captain in the early 1960s. At this point, he was legally licensed to skipper a ship of any size, anywhere in the world. His license read in part: “Any Tonnage, Any Sea.” He spent a lot of time in Viet Nam from 1963-1973. Primary among his duties in Viet Nam was transportation of soldiers and ammunition, frequently along the Mekong Delta.
During his years in Viet Nam, he received two commendations from the Korean Army for transporting troops in dangerous situations. During the period 1965-1966, Orvil was captain of a ship which picked up one of the astronauts returning on a Gemini mission. The Gemini program preceded the Apollo program, and had the goal of training astronauts to fly a spacecraft in orbit. Orvil retired from MSTS (Military Sealift Transport Service, formerly Military Sealift Command) in 1974.
Orvil spent the last 32 years living primarily in the Philippines, which he had visited throughout his military service, and always loved. His nephew, Perry Pool, spent a lot of time with Orvil in the Philippines, as did Roger, Jeff, and David Pool. Orvil spent summers during the mid-1970s with his daughters, Vicky and Sara, in Missouri, later living with his daughters in San Francisco, and then living in Reno, Nev., with his last wife, Emelyn. After that, he returned to the USA approximately once a year.
Orvil was married three times, to Juanita Coats, Dr. Barbara Rosine (mother of daughters Vicky and Sara), and Emelyn Rosalia.
Orvil is survived by his two daughters and three grandchildren, Sean, Heather, and Paige Gordon, children of daughter, Sara and son-in-law Scott Gordon. Orvil is also survived by one sister, Alta Shanks, and many nieces and nephews.
The only service will be visitation at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m.
Military services and burial of the cremains will follow in the Ava Cemetery.
Perry and Roger Pool were in the Philippines at the time of Orvil’s death. There were extensive celebrations in honor of Orvil’s life in the Philippines, and he will be much missed by the people of Talisay, who knew him only as “The Captain.” Orvil had helped many people in the local community over the years.
Linda Garnett, 59
Sep 21, 2006
Linda Garnett, daughter of Thomas L. Dixon and June (Perry) Dixon, was born July 22, 1947, in Lewellan, Neb., and departed this life Sept. 12, 2006, at the age of 59 years.
Linda was a resident of the Ava area for the past 16 years, moving from Kansas City. She was employed with Mobil Oil Corp. for 17 years.
Linda was united in marriage to Gary Norton in 1966 in Kansas City, and to this union, two children were born.
Linda was a member of the Methodist Church. She was president of the Children of the American Revolution at one time and supported American Vets and the VFW.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by two children, Tina Diane Norton and Chad Richard Norton, both of Ava; one sister, Peggy June Laws, Kansas City; one brother, Thomas P. Dixon, Sheridan, Wyo.; special family, Cliff and Pat Shafer, Ashland, Neb., Bill and Mary Ann Boyer, Kansas City, Eddie Scott, Ava, and very special friend, Bobbie Scott, Ava; several nieces and nephews; a life-long friend, Sharon Davis, Kansas City; and a host of other friends.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Mark Degase officiating. The family requests memorials to be made to American Cancer Society, Community Hospice or Multiple Sclerosis.
Helen Irene Wheeler, 88
Sep 14, 2006
Helen Irene Wheeler was born on May 26, 1918, to Benjamin D'Arcy and Ellen Wright D'Arcy, in Birmingham, Mich., and departed this life on Sept. 9, 2006, at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, at the age of 88 years.
Helen was one of 11 children born to the D'Arcy family. Helen’s youth was spent in the Almont area where she attended high school.
On June 2, 1942, Helen and Irvine Wheeler were married at Beulah Church of the Nazarene in Lapeer, Mich., and to this union, three sons were born.
Irvine preceded her in death in 2001. A son, Thomas, a grandson, Grant, four brothers and five sisters also preceded her in death.
Helen was a member of the New Covenant Fellowship Church in Ava. She had lived in Ava for the past eight years, moving from Farmington. She worked as a nurses aide and also was an assistant in Central Supply at the Almont Hospital.
Her survivors include two sons and their spouses, Donald and Alma Wheeler, Columbiaville, Mich., and Dr. Dale and Connie Wheeler, Ava; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Betty Herr, state of Michigan; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Riley Hall officiating. Interment was in the West Lawn Cemetery, North Branch, Mich., on Sept. 14. The service in Michigan will be today (Thursday) at 11 a.m., at the Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home, North Branch, Mich., with a visitation preceding the service at 10 a.m. Also, a visitation was held Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home in North Branch.
A local visitation was Monday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. The family requests memorials to Gideons International or Ava Victory Academy.
Hansel (Dale) Vaughn Reich
Sep 14, 2006
Hansel Dale Reich, the son of Rev. Burton Nell Reich and Dovie (Haskins) Reich, was born Dec. 10, 1930, in Lutie, Mo., and departed this life Sept. 12, 2006, at the age of 75.
Dale was a resident of the Ava area since May 2006, moving from Kirbyville. He was employed with Taney County Road and Bridge for 10 years. Dale enjoyed fishing, camping and going to bluegrass festivals.
On Nov. 6, 1958, Dale and Charlotte Henderson were united in marriage in Lenexa, Kan., and to this union, three sons were born.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Quincy and Frue Reich; one sister, Edna Ledbetter and a son, Curtis Dale Reich.
Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Henderson, Ava; two sons, Keith Vaughn Reich, Ava, and Kevin Vance Reich and wife Cindy, Branson; four grandchildren, Jessica Maggard, Coos Bay, Ore., Grant Reich, Coquille, Ore., Hannah and Keaton Reich, Branson; one sister, Donna Duggins, West Plains; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Donnie Mize officiating. Interment will follow in the Lutie Cemetery.
T. Randal Pahl, 61
Sep 14, 2006
A memorial service for Terrence Randal “Randy” Pahl, 61, Tempe, Ariz., eldest son of Herschel and Bonnie Pahl, of Ava, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Ava United Methodist Church.
Mr. Pahl died on Aug. 13, 2006 from injuries suffered in a bicycle accident the previous night.
His parents and some family members were unable to attend the funeral in Mesa, Ariz., on Aug. 19, so a memorial service is being planned near his parents’ home in Ava.
In lieu of flowers, his family suggest that memorials be made to the American Heart Assn., in care of Ava United Methodist Church, or to the pipe organ fund of the Ava Methodist Church.
Barbara Jean Mitchell, 74
Sep 7, 2006
Barbara Jean (Davis) Mitchell, 74, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Monday, Sept. 4, 2006.
Barbara was the youngest daughter of the late Neal and Bertha Davis and has several relatives in the Ava area.
Visitation was held Wednesday night in Broken Arrow and funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m., at Central Church of the Nazarene, Broken Arrow.
Daniel James Kiser, 52
Sep 28, 2006
Daniel James Kiser, the son of Jason Andrew Kiser and Laura (Hamilton) Kiser, was born July 21, 1954, in Rock Spring, Wyo., and departed this life Sept. 12, 2006, at the age of 52.
Daniel was a resident of Ava for most of his life. He served his country during the Vietnam War serving with the U.S. Air Force.
Daniel attended the Ava Assembly of God Church.
Daniel was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, James and Robert.
Daniel is survived by one son, Jason Kiser, Seattle, Wash.; a sister-in-law, Helga Kiser, Ava; and other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Ava Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Gary Stigall officiating.
Cremation service was under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Jack Herbert Kyle, 78
Sep 21, 2006
Jack Herbert Kyle, 78, of Springfield, died on Sept. 17, 2006, in Cox South following a long illness.
Jack was born in Nottinghill, Mo., on March 12, 1928, to Glennie Kyle and Beulah (Hargis) Kyle.
He attended Ava High School until age 17 when he joined the United States Navy. He served four years in the navy, the last two of which were on a hospital ship.
On Nov. 22, 1951, Jack married Mary Etta Minkler. To this union three children were born: Rick Kyle and wife, Michal, Kent Kyle and wife, Jerri Lynn, and Julie Simonson and husband, Tim, all of Springfield.
Jack delighted in his grandchildren, Mary Joe, Joshua, Mackenzie, Colton, Adam, and Morgan. Besides his family, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, woodworking, and private aircraft.
For 45 years, he served in the life insurance business, the last 20 years with sons Kent and Rick, and office manager Rhonda Baker. His business accomplishments include: first Franklin Life agency, under manager Guy Cowden; professional designation of chartered life underwriter; lifetime member of million dollar round table; past president of the Springfield Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; Greene County Estate Planning Council; and Springfield Chapter Society of Financial Service Professionals. In the past he had also served as a board member of his church, Christ Church Unity, and a member of Abou Ben Adhem Shrine.
Jack was preceded in death by his mother and father.
A funeral service will be held today (Thursday, Sept. 21) at 11 a.m. at Christ Church Unity, under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. at the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Church Unity, 2214 E. Seminole, Springfield, MO 65804.
