Marvin Bryan Rhodes
Marvin Bryan Rhodes lived and died in his garden.
There, in his 7-acre yard, he planted everything from carrots and watermelons to pumpkins and potatoes.
On Tuesday, he collapsed in the garden he loved while planting sweet onions.
"Anytime he wasn't working during the time off during the day, he would work at his garden," his son, Stanley Rhodes, said. "We thought it was good that he died in his garden because that's where he loved to be."
Mr. Rhodes of Columbia died Tuesday, March 27, 2001. He was 70.
Mr. Rhodes was born Dec. 10, 1930, in Leadington to Ollie Dayton and Beulah Pearl Downs Rhodes. He married Melba Ruth Crouch on Nov. 8, 1952, in Leadwood.
Mr. Rhodes served in the U.S. Army for three years during the Korean War.
Mr. Rhodes came to Columbia in 1977. He became an owner of Plaza Tire.
"He was a whole lot into business," Stanley Rhodes said. "He was always trying to figure out how to raise more money for the Shriners' children's home."
Mr. Rhodes was involved with many clubs including the Tiger Shrine Club and the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, the Central State Grotto Association, the Aleppo Model T Gang.
For Stanley Rhodes, Mr. Rhodes' character will be his legacy.
"He always had a joke," Stanley Rhodes said. "His words were golden. He was always honest. He was just a straight-up businessman. ... He was just honest as the day is long."
Visitation for Mr. Rhodes will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Services, conducted by John Schloot and the Rev. Leroy Dickinson, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. Rhodes will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Rhodes is survived by his wife; four sons, Richard Rhodes of Edwardsville, Ill., Stanley Rhodes of Fayette, Barry Rhodes of Columbia and Gregory Rhodes of St. Louis; two brothers, Edwin Rhodes and Vernon "Pee Wee" Rhodes, both of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Vivian Wampler of Montrose, Colo., Evelyn Seal of Farmington; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Two brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center, 4895 E. Highway 163, Columbia, Mo. 65201, or Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63131.
Miriam G. Hoag
Miriam Graves Hoag, the former director of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center's social work department, died Thursday, March 29, 2001, in Winona, Miss. She was 90.
Mrs. Hoag, who lived in Winona, attended MU and received her special education degree at the New York School of Social Work. She worked as a social caseworker for the Missouri Division of Social Welfare and the Boone County chapter of the American Red Cross.
Mrs. Hoag organized and developed the Department of Social Work Services at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, where she worked for 39 years until March 1981.
Mrs. Hoag had been a resident of Columbia until her health deteriorated.
Mrs. Hoag wrote many articles regarding cancer patients. She was an active member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, where she served as a deaconess, and, at the time of her death, a deaconess emeritus.
Mrs. Hoag was born June 21, 1910, to Harry and Cassie Green Graves.
Mrs. Hoag married Jefferson Rawling Hoag.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Kenneth R. Watson, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Rocheport Cemetery off of Gaw Street in Rocheport.
Mrs. Hoag is survived by her sister, Mildred McKay of Kansas City and nieces and nephews.
Her husband died earlier.
Walter D. Keller
Walter D. Keller, an MU geology professor for almost 70 years, died Friday, March 23, 2001 in Rolla. He was 101.
Dr. Keller, a geology professor emeritus at MU, retired in 1970, but he was still active in the geology department and at MU. He continued to come to his office every weekday and even some Saturday mornings up until mid-December, when it became too cold for him to make the drive.
"He was quite a legend around here," said Marsha Huckabey, an administrative associate at the department. "We really cared about him. It was wonderful to see him come in every day."
The auditorium in the geology building was named Keller Auditorium in his honor in 1981.
Dr. Keller was born March 13, 1900, in North Kansas City. He attended MU in 1920 and received three degrees from MU in geology: a bachelor's degree in 1925, a master's degree in 1926 and a doctoral degree in 1933. He began teaching at MU in 1926 and started to focus on clay and clay minerals. He married Madge Jones in 1936.
Dr. Keller published more than 200 papers and wrote five books. He received many awards for his teaching and research. The geological sciences department celebrated his 100th birthday in April 2000 by establishing the $100,000 Walter Keller Opportunities for Excellence Endowment.
"Dr. Keller was a remarkable man," Glen Himmelberg, geological sciences department chairman, said in a press release. "He dedicated his life to geology, to learning and to helping others experience the rewards of learning. He will be greatly missed."
Besides his interest in geology, Dr. Keller was a big fan of MU football. In a 1993 article in the Columbia Daily Tribune, he boasted of not missing a game since he started college in 1920.
Dr. Keller was buried Wednesday near Greenwood, Ark. A memorial service will be held at MU at 4 p.m. on April 20 in Keller Auditorium, Geological Sciences Building.
Dr. Keller is survived by two sons: David Keller of Rolla and Dwight Keller of Canada and grandchildren.
His wife died earlier.
A. Virginia Crim Bahr
A. Virginia Crim Bahr of Coulterville, Ill. died March 24, 2001, at Sparta Community Hospital. She was 88.
Mrs. Bahr was born Jan. 10, 1913, in Cranberry, N.C., to John Monroe and Cora Ivalee Moody Jennings.
Formerly of Columbia, Mrs. Bahr was an elementary school teacher in Boone and Callaway counties from 1931 to 1949. For the past 25 years she has devoted her life to nursing.
Mrs. Bahr married Walter Crim on July 20, 1936 in Johnson City, Tenn. He died earlier. In Columbia, Nov. 13, 1967, she married Quentin Bahr.
Services for Mrs. Bahr will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetary.
Mrs. Bahr is survived by her husband, her daughter, Nona Sue Shadrick of Coulterville, Ill.; four grandsons, eleven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Her son, Michael Leyden Crim, two brothers, Doran Jennings and Russell Jennings and her sister, Ruth Davis died earlier.
Mary Belle Long
Mary Belle Long, of Columbia, died Sunday, March 25, 2001, in Columbia. She was 62.
She was born January 11, 1939, in Columbia to Louis Eldon and Ola Jewell Acton Stephens. She married Edgar Long October 5, 1968.
Visitation for Ms. Long begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West. Services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bruce Caldwell conducting.
Ms. Long is survived by her son, Gary Long of Columbia; four daughters, Dorothy Calvert, Barbara Craig and Billie Jean Langdon, all of Columbia, and Esther Day of Mexico; 17 step grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
A son and a daughter died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 33 East Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo, 65203.
Linda D. Windsor
Linda Denise Windsor, of Columbia, died Sunday, March 25, 2001, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She died from an infection caused by hepatitis. She was 47.
Mrs. Windsor was born Nov. 20, 1953 in Tacoma, Wash., to Cecil W. Windsor Jr. and Emma L. Seifert Windsor. She married Floyd B. Windsor III in Columbia on March 10, 1984.
Mrs. Windsor was a purchasing agent for the city for nearly 20 years.
Visitation for Mrs. Windsor will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Christian Chapel, 3300 S. Providence Rd. Services, conducted by the Rev. Gary Denbow, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Christian Chapel. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery.
Mrs. Windsor is survived by her husband, Floyd B. Windsor III; her mother, Emma L. Stover of Boonville; a grandmother, Edna M. Windsor, of Boonville; a son, Jonathan P. Windsor, of Columbia; a stepson, Jason S. Windsor of Alexandria, Va.; a stepdaughter, Stacie R. Friedrich, of Columbia; a brother, Rick Sedgwick of Jamestown; five sisters, Darlene Smith, of Kansas City, Teresa Windsor of Boonville, Valorie Windsor of Hartsburg, Letha Scott of Bunceton, Jackie Cockrell of Sturgeon; four grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Her father and a sister, Janie Lynn Windsor, died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Speed the Light Ministries, Mid-America Transplant Services or Jonathan Windsor Educational Fund, c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Bus. 70 W., Columbia, Mo., 65202.
Norman Donald Asel
Listen up - keep your bowels open, as one old dermatologist would say - because a man who loved living has died.
Norman Donald Asel, a retired dermatologist who loved nature and a host of "Normanisms," died March 23, 2001, at Lenoir Health Care Center in Columbia. He was 83.
Born Jan. 30, 1918, Dr. Asel attended Westminister College in Fulton and graduated from Washington University Medical School in St. Louis in 1942.
He married Frances Shirky in 1942. She died in 1999.
During his 50-year medical career, Dr. Asel practiced dermatology in Cleveland, Kansas City and Columbia. He founded the dermatology division at MU and was president of the Boone County Medical Society in 1972.
Dr. Asel faced challenges head-on, his children said. He would say, "We need to apply a little goose grease and apple butter," and he told them that "growing old ain't for sissies."
His children said Dr. Asel was a strong, caring man.
"We've all tried to emulate his lifestyle - his love of nature, his honesty," his son, Donald B. Asel, said.
Dr. Asel built a cabin on the shore of Bull Shoals Lake in 1969 where he, friends and family would hunt and fish. Dr. Asel loved hunting quail - one morning, he served his guests quail and champagne for breakfast. He also loved bass fishing and wore the same Wal-Mart fishing hat every time he went out.
The cabin's guest log is crowded with notes and greetings from people who knew and loved Dr. Asel, his son said.
"He touched a lot of people's lives," he said.
Memorial services were held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Parker Funeral Service and Crematory, 22 Tenth St.
Dr. Asel is survived by his son, Donald B. Asel of Columbia, and two daughters, Joann Asel Rea, of Potomac Md., and Kristen Asel Smith, of Leawood, Kan.
Audrey Elaine Stappenbeck
Audrey Elaine Stappenbeck died Friday, March 23, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 41.
Ms. Stappenbeck was born in San Antonio, Texas, on June 17, 1959, to Herb and Barbara Pickard Stappenbeck.
A graduate of Rock Bridge High School and MU, where she received a master's degree in math education and was a member of Marching Mizzou, Ms. Stappenbeck was a teacher at Del Valle High School in Austin, Texas.
For 10 years, Ms. Stappenbeck taught at Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville, where she was director of plays. She was a member of the Missouri Federation of Teachers and Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Jefferson City. Ms. Stappenbeck later moved to Gadsden, Ala., for six months before settling in Texas last year.
A memorial for Ms. Stappenbeck will be held at 2 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St.
Ms. Stappenbeck is survived by her father, Herb Louis Stappenbeck; her mother, Barbara Ellen Stappenbeck, both of Gadsden, Ala.; and two brothers, Gregory John Stappenbeck of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Stephen Charles Stappenbeck of Austin, Texas.
Memorials may be sent to Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Charles David Paulsell
Few sportswriters could match his dedication, and few sports fans could match his knowledge and insight. Charles David Paulsell, longtime sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune, died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, at his home in Columbia. He was 78.
Mr. Paulsell worked at the Tribune during the '50s and '60s. He covered the glory days of MU baseball, including the team's 1954 College World Series Championship. .
"He was a hell of a journalist," said Bill Clark, a Major League Baseball scout and friend. .
Clark recalled a story that shows Mr. Paulsell's quick thinking during an unexpected crisis. .
Former Los Angeles Dodgers president Branch Rickey had a stroke and collapsed while giving an acceptance speech at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. .
A sports reporter came back with the news about the stroke, but was missing a key fact. "Did he die?" Mr. Paulsell asked. .
The writer didn't know, so Mr. Paulsell sent him back. .
"He made me into a pretty good sportswriter in that he asked me to look a little deeper than the score," Clark said. .
Mr. Paulsell's favorite teams included the St. Louis Cardinals and any MU team. .
Mr. Paulsell's love of sports led to friendships with such MU sports legends as Norm Stewart, former baseball coach John "Hi" Simmons, and former assistant football coach Clay Cooper. .
Cooper said his insight into sports was not only good, but often humorous. .
"He was an entertaining fellow in my book," Cooper said. .
He had "lively, friendly arguments" with friends about sports and current events, Clark said. .
"I don't know if we ever agreed on anything," Clark said. "He was kind of the fun of the sports world." Mr. Paulsell served in the Army Medical Corps from 1942 to 1945, then graduated from the MU School of Journalism in 1950. .
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion and spent many years as a volunteer with the Little League baseball program. .
Graveside services will be April 16 in Potosi. .
Mr. Paulsell is survived by two sisters, Marjorie Klinger of Raleigh, N.C., and Mildred Spohr of St. Louis; and several nieces and nephews. One sister and two brothers died earlier. .
John William Kessler
John William Kessler of Columbia died Wednesday, April 4, 2001, at University Hospital. He was 81.
Mr. Kessler dedicated his entire life to helping others. His service brought him in contact with the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt and Coretta Scott King.
"His main concern was humanitarian service," said his wife, Gale Kessler. "He believed the most important thing was the good of the greater society."
"He wanted nobody to feel inferior, and spent his life working to give everyone a chance to come up in society through education," his wife said.
Mr. Kessler was born July 2, 1919, in Gunn City to Reuben and Nanny Cox Kessler. During World War II, Mr. Kessler served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in Italy. He married Bernice Houbeck and she later died. He then married Gale Facktor on Feb. 21, 1986, in Chicago.
Mr. Kessler was active in the YMCA organization nearly all his life. He was once president of the Oak Park, Ill., YMCA and the Minneapolis YMCA. He was chairman of the Urban League of the 25 largest YMCAs in the United States, a member of the National Board of the YMCA and chairman of the International Committee YMCA of the U.S.A.
"His hobbies were the least of his life," Mrs. Kessler said. "He was much more interested in trying to do something for humanity."
Being active in the YMCA enabled Mr. Kessler to travel the world.
"He lived in Singapore and was invited to Jerusalem to consult with the YMCA there," Mrs. Kessler said. "He also led a YMCA statesman tour that took him such places as India and South America."
Services, conducted by the Rev. Fred Brandenburg, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. A reception will follow the service. Burial will be at St. Luke's Methodist Church Cemetery in Marshfield.
Mr. Kessler is survived by his wife; two sons, John Kessler of Minneapolis and David Kessler of Portland, Ore.; two stepsons, Greg Facktor of Los Angeles and Charles Facktor of Eagle, Wis.; a stepdaughter, Laura Meehan of Chicago; and ten grandchildren.
His brother and two sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 88, Columbia, Mo., 65205.
James B. Perkins
James Barthel Perkins of Columbia died Thursday, March 29, 2001. He was 69.
He was born Oct. 29, 1931, in Macon, Mo., to Martin Lincoln and Lou Mamie Davidson Perkins.
After attending high school in St. Louis, he served in the Army for 14 years, following World War II.
Mr. Perkins, who lived in Columbia for 40 years, worked as a folding machine operator in printing.
Services will be held at a later date.
Mr. Perkins is survived by a sister, Ruth V. Brockman of Columbia; and a brother, William Lincoln Perkins of Columbia.
His parents and two brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, 2600 I-70 Drive NW, Columbia, Mo. 65202, or the American Diabetes Association, 1316 Parkade Blvd, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Fred Perkins
Fred Perkins of Lake Ozark, formerly of Columbia, died Friday, March 30, 2001 at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach. He was 73.
Mr. Perkins was born on April 10, 1927, in Columbia to Lilburn and Bessie Elder Perkins.
He married Mary Lou Ray on Sept. 14, 1946. Working as a building contractor for 40 years in Columbia, Mr. Perkins was well respected by his peers and clients and was "a friend to everyone," according to his daughter, Donna Ray.
"His biggest pleasure in life was his family," she said. His grandchildren were "his biggest joy in all of life."
Visitation for Mr. Perkins was Monday. Services, conducted by the Rev. Rodney Albert, will be at 2 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Columia.
Mr. Perkins is survived by his wife; one son, Mike Perkins of Columbia; two daughters, Donna Ray of Clovis, Calif., and Carol Hucker of Georgetown, Colo.; three sisters, Dora Jones of Columbia, Hettie Calvert of St. Louis and Carrie Winn of Albuquerque, N.M.; four grandchildren; and a great granddaughter.
Six brothers and four sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to The American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, MO 65201.
Kenneth Sample Sr.
In June 1928, a doctor visited the home of Lenzy and Minnie Sample in Kennett, Mo., to see the new baby boy, Kenneth.
Because of the baby's length and weight, the doctor could not believe their son's birthdate was May 3. So he moved it back to April 4, 1928.
Kenneth Gerald Sample Sr. of Columbia died Monday, April 2, 2001, at Truman Veterans Hospital. He was 72.
At 14, Mr. Sample joined the Merchant Marine in Detroit.
Mr. Sample enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 16. He served in Korea, Lebanon and Cuba during the 1950s.
In 1960, Mr. Sample served as a navigation technician and gunner in Vietnam before transferring to the Memphis Naval Air Station where he taught electronics.
He returned to Vietnam in 1963 where he was stationed until his retirement in 1969. Mr. Sample ended his career with 851 combat missions.
A Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts and many other medals were awarded to Mr. Sample.
Mr. Sample went to work for RCA designing test systems for color televisions before moving to Wayne County, Mo., in 1970. He worked at the Sears Youth Center where he also taught electronics.
In 1975, Mr. Sample moved to Diamond City, Ark., and taught at the VoTech School in Harrison, Ark.
He traveled extensively during the past eight years after retirement and moved to his son's home in Columbia in April 2000.
A member of the Masonic Fraternity, Mr. Sample held several state and local offices. He was the Past Master of Greenville Lodge No. 107 in Greenville and the Past Presiding Officer of the York Rite bodies in Poplar Bluff.
Visitation for Mr. Sample will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Masonic services will begin at 2 p.m. with traditional services immediately following conducted by the Rev. Lewis C. Odneal. Mr. Sample will be cremated and his ashes buried in Rucker Cemetery in Wayne County, Mo.
Mr. Sample is survived by two sons, Kevin B. Sample of Columbia and Kenneth Gerald Sample Jr. of Kennett; one daughter, Susan Thomason of Paragould, Ark.; and eight grandchildren.
His wife of 33 years, Marlene Joann Sample; one daughter; nine brothers; and three sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation, c/o Robert H. Bray, P.O. Box 290, Fayette, Mo. 65248-0290.
