William Francis Penn
William Francis "Sonny" Penn of Marshall died Tuesday at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. He was 62.
Mr. Penn was born on Feb. 9, 1939, in Sedalia to Bernard J. and Levi H. Brown Penn.
In New York City during the 1960s, Mr. Penn was a member of the Be-Op singing group. The group made a couple doo-wop records, which did not cause a musical stir, but Mr. Penn's family enjoyed them, his niece Rose Jamerson said.
Mr. Penn continued his singing career in the choir at Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church in Marshall where he served as an usher.
"He was devout," Bishop E.T. Sims, the church's pastor, said.
Until he retired, he worked at the Marshall Habilitation Center when it was called Marshall State School. He worked there for 22 years. Mr. Penn attended C.C. Hubbard School in Sedalia during elementary school and high school.
Visitation for Mr. Penn will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 460 South Lincoln in Marshall. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Services, conducted by Bishop Sims, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Burns Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, 207 E. Pettis St. in Sedalia. Burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery, 830 N. Engineer Ave. in Sedalia.
Mr. Penn was "family-oriented," Jamerson said.
He is survived by four sons, William A. Penn of Georgia, Keith E. Penn of Denver, Garon G. Penn of Florida, and William K. Penn of Marshall; six daughters, Vickie Buford of Columbia, Danette Penn of Oklahoma, Kim G. Penn of Denver, Lisa Curd of Michigan, Mysha K. Penn and Janeka L. Penn, both of Marshall; and one sister, Rose Minor of Kansas City; many nieces, nephews and grandchildren; and his companion, LaFondra Laney of Marshall
His parents, and one sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 460 South Lincoln, Marshall, Mo., 65340.
Gaylord N. Morton
Gaylord Nelson Morton of Hallsville died Wednesday, May 2, 2001, at his home. He was 71.
Mr. Morton was born April 23, 1930, in Boone County to Lawrence Edward and Annie Belle Hudson Morton. He married Bonnie Tharp on Aug. 27, 1950, in Columbia and was a member of the Bethany Baptist Church.
Visitation for Mr. Morton will be from noon to 1 p.m. today at Robinson Funeral Home, 601 N. Henry Clay Blvd. in Ashland. Services, conducted by the Rev. Jim Smith, will follow at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hartsburg.
Mr. Morton is survived by his wife; one son, Perry Morton of Hallsville; one daughter, Vicki Pauley of Columbia; three grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren.
One son died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association Columbia Chapter, P.O. Box 30638, Columbia, Mo., 65205.
Videlia Jackson
Videlia Jackson of Columbia died Sunday, April 29, 2001, at University Hospital. She was 52.
Mrs. Jackson was employed at the Salvation Army as a cook. She attended the Christian Fellowship Church of Columbia. She lived in St. Louis until 1995, when she moved to Columbia.
She was born July 11, 1948, to Wallace and Isabelle Ivy White in St. Louis.
Visitation for Mrs. Jackson will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Warren Funeral Chapel, 10 N. Fourth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Scott Williams, will be at 10 a.m. at the chapel. Burial will be at Rock Bridge Cemetery in Pierpont.
Mrs. Jackson is survived by her father, of Bellevue, Ill.; her husband, Lamar Jackson of St. Louis; one son, Robert Jackson of St. Louis; three daughters, Vanessa White and Lameisha Jackson Smith, both of Columbia, and Carolyn Jackson of St. Louis; four brothers, James White of Jefferson City, Virgil White of Denver, Tommy White of California and Dale White of Atlanta; two sisters, Annie B. White and Dorothy Jones, both of St. Louis; and 20 grandchildren.
Her mother, one sister and one brother died earlier.
Deborah D. Griffith
Deborah D. Griffith of Columbia died Friday, April 27, 2001, at her home. She was 48.
"Her family will love and miss her always," said her daughter, Johneen Griffith.
Ms. Griffith was born Jan. 7, 1953, in Louisiana, Mo., to Lloyd and Mary Woodall Griffith.
She moved from Kansas City to Columbia in 1975. Ms. Griffith was formerly employed as a bus driver with Ryder Transportation and was a member of the Christ Apostolic Temple Church of Columbia.
Ms. Griffith loved the Bible and gospel music. She also enjoyed playing cards, rhythm and blues and watching old movies over and over again and laughing every time, Johneen Griffith said. Above everything, she loved her children and grandchildren.
"She had the biggest heart of anyone I've ever know," Johneen Griffith said. "If you ever needed an ear or a shoulder to cry on, she was there and would do anything for you. If you ever met her, you would never forget her."
Visitation was Thursday. Services, conducted by the Rev. Ray Warren, will be at 1 p.m. today at Fifth Street Christian Church, 401 N. Fifth St. Burial will follow at Rock Bridge Cemetery in Pierpont.
Ms. Griffith is survived by one son, Brock Griffith of Kansas City, Kan.; two daughters, Johneen Griffith and Daneillie Griffith, both of Columbia; one sister, Karline Moreira of Columbia; four brothers, Derrick Griffith and Allan Griffith, both of Columbia, Donald Griffith of Kansas City, Kan., and Kevin Griffith of Hannibal; five grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her mother and father died earlier.
Doile James Kellum
Doile James Kellum of Columbia died Monday, April 30, 2001, at DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton. He was 50.
Mr. Kellum loved to fish so much that he earned the nickname "Catfish."
"He caught the biggest fish in Missouri," said his wife, Bonnie Kellum. "It was a 135-pound spoonbill that he caught out at Little Dixie."
Mr. Kellum was born Oct. 24, 1950, in Gideon to John Harvey and Ethel Shaw Kellum. He served in the Army from 1970 to 1972 and earned the rank of sergeant. On Oct. 17, 1992, he married Bonnie McDaniel in Columbia.
"He was a very loving husband," Bonnie Kellum said. "He always sent me red roses at work on every special occasion."
Visitation for Mr. Kellum will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Dan Crooms, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Kellum is survived by his wife; three daughters, Della Tangy of Macks Creek, April Meador of Poplar Bluff and Crystal Seabourn of Hornersville; six brothers, Ray Gene Kellum and Paul Kellum, both of Gideon, John Kellum of Montgomery, Ill., Wayne Kellum of Poplar Bluff, George Kellum of St. Louis and Ira Kellum of Aurora, Ill.; two sisters, Ruby Stephens of Clarkton and Louise Higgins of Clarksville, Texas; and two grandchildren.
His parents, three brothers and one sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 30638, Columbia, Mo. 65205.
Robert Lloyd White
Robert Lloyd White of Columbia died Tuesday, May 1, 2001. He was 84.
Mr. White was born May 6, 1916, in Parsons, Kan., to Lloyd Taylor and Ethel Heinbaugh White. He married Katherine Ellen Taylor on Dec. 25, 1943. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
Mr. White attended the University of Kansas and received a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting. He was an accountant for CEJA Oil Co. in Tulsa, Okla., until he retired in 1972. He moved to Columbia in 1975.
He was a member of the Lion's Club and the Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Olivet Christian Church and sang in the choir.
Visitation for Mr. White will be from 9 to 11 a.m. today at Olivet Christian Church, 1991 S. Olivet Road. Services, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Swearngin, will follow. He will be buried in Olivet Cemetery.
Mr. White is survived by his wife, Katherine White, of Columbia; two daughters, Ellen Burdette Buthod of St. Louis and Mimi Nelle DuMond of Pineville; four sons, Andy White of Carlsbad, N.M., Howard White and Tris White, both of Oklahoma City and Lloyd White of Corpus Christi, Texas; one sister, Mary Maxson of Edna, Kan.; 17 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
One brother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Olivet Christian Church Building Fund, 1991 S. Olivet Road, Columbia, Mo. 65201 or Heifer Project International, P.O. Box 808, Little Rock, Ark. 72203.
Stephen L. Bonwich
Stephen L. Bonwich of Columbia died Thursday, April 26, 2001. He was 81.
Mr. Bonwich loved people, travel and tennis, his wife Emily Bonwich said.
"He was very outgoing and energetic," she said. "He was really interested in playing tennis all his life."
The couple visited many foreign regions in recent years, including Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Scandinavia. One of their most memorable trips was two years ago when they visited Norway. Mrs. Bonwich's mother had recently died and had left money in her will for her three children and their spouses to fly to Norway and spread her ashes in a fjord. While in Europe the couple also visited Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Estonia.
Mr. Bonwich was born Dec. 25, 1919, in New York City to Peter Bonwich and Maria Charski Bonwich. He married Emily Louise Blank in 1947 in Georgetown, Texas. Mr. Bonwich was a navigator with the 90th Bomb Group of the Army Air Corps during WWII. The couple moved to Columbia in 1972, where he was a realtor at Gas Light Realty. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Services for Mr. Bonwich will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Drive, with the Rev. Dave Veit officiating.
Mr. Bonwich is survived by his wife; two sons, Stephen Michael Bonwich of Springfield, Va., and Christopher Bonwich of Fort Smith, Ark.; two brothers, William Bonwich of Creve Coeur and Peter S. Bonwich of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Drive, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
James R. Lane Jr.
James Robert Lane Jr. of Columbia died Saturday, April 28, 2001. He was 34. The cause of death is unknown.
Mr. Lane was born July 28, 1966, in Springfield, Mo., to James R. and Lynne Atters Lane. He had lived in Columbia since 1988.
Mr. Lane worked in construction, framing houses for several years.
"He was a good guy and everybody liked him," said his aunt, Diana Ivie. "He did a lot of stuff for people. If he had any money, he'd give someone his last dollar or the shirt off his back or fix their car. He wasn't the kind to turn his back on anyone."
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Klingner Mortuary in Springfield,, Mo. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday also at Klingner Mortuary. Mr. Lane's body will be cremated.
Mr. Lane is survived by his daughter, Katelyn L. Lane of Fulton; his fiancee, Ginnie L. Wren of Columbia; his mother, Lynne Watters Brown of Brighton; his stepfather, Mark Brown of Brighton; his father James R. Lane, Sr.; his brother, Jeffrey L. Lane; his stepbrother, Jason Brown; and his grandmother, Anna Hester Lane, all of Springfield, Mo.
His maternal grandparents and his paternal grandfather died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to D.A.R.E. Program, c/o Columbia Police Dept., 600 E. Walnut, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Dorothy Turner
Dorothy "Dottie" Ann Sabin Turner of Columbia died Sunday, April 29, 2001. She was 78.
Mrs. Turner was born Feb. 3, 1923, in Glasgow, Mo., to James Clark and Maude Black Sabin. She graduated from DePaul Hospital School of Nursing in 1944 and served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant J.G. from 1944 to 1946.
She married Tom Turner on May 2, 1946, in Oakland, Calif. She worked as a nurse at several hospitals in Columbia from 1948 to 1988 and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. The Rev. Michael Flanagan will conduct services at 11 a.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Turner is survived by four sons, Tom Turner Jr. of Camdenton and Tim Turner, Todd Turner and Brian Turner, all of Columbia; three daughters, Sharon Vick, Karen Harms and Roxanne Gentry, all of Columbia; and 11 grandchildren.
Her husband and one brother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the World War II Women's Veterans Memorial, c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Bus. Loop 70 W., Columbia, Mo., 65202.
Herschel J. Gaddy
Herschel J. Gaddy of Marshall died Saturday, April 28, 2001, at the Carriage Square Nursing Home in St. Joseph. He was 81.
Mr. Gaddy was born on July 23, 1919, in Fair Grove to Homer and Effie Treon Gaddy. He married Dona Nella Stiles on Feb. 1, 1941, in Armstrong.
Before retiring in 1975, Mr. Gaddy served as Saline County's agricultural agent. He spoke weekly on a radio show about farming.
"Every morning he would show up to the station with a minute to spare and talk off the cuff for 15 or 20 minutes about agriculture," said his daughter, Jean Gaddy Wilson, a former MU journalism adjunct associate professor.
A graduate of MU's College of Agriculture in 1941, Mr. Gaddy served in the U.S. Army in the and North Africa during World War II. He was a member of the Farm House Fraternity.
Mr. Gaddy completed his master's degree at MU at the same time his son, his daughter and her husband were students there.
"We all worried about Daddy because he was always worried about grades," Wilson said. His concern paid off. "That guy graduated summa cum laude," she recalled.
Mr. Gaddy became the area agronomist for Saline, Chariton and Carroll counties with MU's Extension Division in 1970.
Mr. Gaddy's work went beyond Missouri's farm fields and included many community interests. A former president of Marshall's chamber of commerce, he was a 50-year member of the Order of Masons and the First Christian Church, where he taught Sunday school.
The World War II veteran was also a member of the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for 50 years.
Mr. Gaddy, a licensed gunsmith and lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, commanded an historic re-enactmemt group with the Missouri Militia. He also volunteered for the Friends of Arrow Rock at the John Sites Gunshop.
Visitation for Mr. Gaddy will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home, 226 S. Odell Ave., with Masonic services at 8 p.m.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Colby Smith, will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church, 130 N. Jefferson Ave. in Marshall. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall.
Mr. Gaddy is survived by his wife; two daughters, Jean Gaddy Wilson of Marshall, and Mary Gaddy of Billings, Mont.; two sons, Herschel J. Gaddy Jr. of St. Joseph, and Donald R. Gaddy of Houston, Texas; and eight grandchildren.
Arthur Ferguson
Arthur Ferguson of Columbia died Saturday, April 28, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 94.
Mr. Ferguson was born March 18, 1907, in Wilkin County, Minn., to Charles E. and Bertha Meili Ferguson.
Mr. Ferguson married Olivia Van Hauten in Pond, Mo., June 27, 1934.
He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Animal Husbandry and was an Angus breeder all of his life.
Mr. Ferguson was a member of Rising Sun Baptist Church in Auxvasse. "He'll be missed by all his friends," said his son, Gordon Ferguson. "He had a lot of them."
"He was an honest man," said Gordon Ferguson. "I never heard him say a bad word about anyone."
Visitation for Mr. Ferguson will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Rising Sun Baptist Church, 1901 State Road DD, in Auxvasse. Services, conducted by the Rev. Bill Romans and the Rev. Jim Palmer, will be at 2 p.m. at the church.
Mr. Ferguson is survived by his wife, Olivia Ferguson of Columbia; a son, Gordon Ferguson of Columbia; a brother, Willard Ferguson of Litchfield, Minn.; and two grandchildren.
Two brothers, Donald Ferguson and Chellis Ferguson died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Rising Sun Baptist Church, 1901 State Road DD, Auxvasse, MO 65231..
Loretta J. Thornton
Loretta J. Thornton of Columbia died Sunday, April 29, 2001. She was 63.
Mrs. Thornton was born Oct. 29, 1937, in Monroe City, Mo., to Henry L. and Hazel Utterbach Thompson.
She married Kenneth W. Thornton on June 28, 1958, in Hannibal.
Mrs. Thornton was employed at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center from 1965 to 1999. She was a lifetime member and volunteer for the Lady's Auxiliary at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. She donated much of her time to the Company K 38th Regiment Reunions, assisting and organizing reunions for veterans of the Korean War. Mrs. Thornton was a member of Parkade Baptist Church.
Visitation for Mrs. Thornton was Monday. Services, conducted by the Rev. Les Cassil, will be at 11 a.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West.
Mrs. Thornton is survived by her husband, Kenneth W. Thornton of Columbia; four sons, Kenneth Wayne Thornton of W. Va., Terry Thornton of Vista, Calif., and Curtis Thornton and Kevin Thornton, both of Columbia; a daughter, Connie J. McGee of Columbia; a brother, Henry Lee Thompson of Kansas City; three sisters, Shirley Davis-Mangelsen of Macon, Francis Roberts of Macon and Mary Lee Barnes of Kansas City; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Her parents and a brother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63131.
Blanche Roberts
Blanche Roberts of Columbia died Saturday, April 28, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 95.
"Her big passion was the church and the activities," said her daughter, Rose Mary Langland.
An active member of the United Methodist Church, Mrs. Roberts was the church pianist, organist, a Sunday school teacher and women's groups member at Gravois Mills United Methodist Church in Gravois Mills. She maintained her membership with the church even after she moved to Columbia.
Langland also spoke of her mother's fondness for writing cards and letters. Mrs. Roberts paid special attention to her writing in the past few years when she was not able to attend as many activities.
"She remembered everyone's birthdays and anniversaries; she was great at writing cards," Langland said.
For a number of years, the Mrs. Roberts and her husband, Guy P. Roberts, spent their winters in Arizona and traveled around the country after retirement. One special trip consisted of driving and camping in Alaska.
Mrs. Roberts was born Dec. 6, 1905, in Wakonda, S.D., to Arthur and Pearl Horlocker Ward. She lived in a log cabin on a homestead for the first five years of her life until the family moved to a farm near Stover. The family later moved to Stover and then to Green Ridge.
In 1924, she attended Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg. She then taught first and second grade, as well as music for all grades, in Westboro. She had to give up teaching when she got married, however, because at the time she was not allowed by the school to do both.
She married Guy P. Roberts, a farmer and rural mail carrier, on Jan. 1, 1931. They moved to Tarkio and lived there until 1970, when they retired and moved to the Lake of the Ozarks. In 1981, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She moved to Columbia in 1989 after her husband's death. She lived at Terrace Apartments.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Neal Lassinger, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Graveside services, conducted by the Rev. James Shrieves, will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Center Grove Cemetery in Tarkio.
Mrs. Roberts is survived by a daughter, Rose Mary Langland of Columbia; a son, Roger P. Roberts of Albuquerque, N.M.; six grandchildren and four great- grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army, 1108 Ash St., or Gravois Mills United Methodist Church, 210 Valley Road, Gravois Mills, Mo. 65037.
David C. Gysbers
David Charles Gysbers of Harrisburg died Friday, April 27, 2001, at his home. He was 43.
Mr. Gysbers was born July 2, 1957, in Wurzburg, Germany, to Norm and Mary Lou Ziegler Gysbers. He married Cheryl Ann Pemberton on June 26, 1982, in Columbia.
Mr. Gysbers enjoyed restoring old cars and motorcycles when he was not at his job at Square D in Columbia. He helped out in the community using his talent for making repairs.
"He was just a very helpful and giving person," said his sister-in-law Carol Shafer, "always willing to give."
Visitation for Mr. Gysbers was Sunday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Raymond Massey, will be at 10 a.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home. Mr. Gysbers will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Gysbers is survived by his father, Norm; his wife, Cheryl; a son, Justin Gysbers of Harrisburg; a daughter, Melissa Gysbers of Harrisburg; a brother, Daniel Gysbers of Hannibal; and a sister, Debra Landes of Overland Park, Kan.
His mother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 30638, Columbia, Mo. 65205.
Charlie Calvin
Charlie Calvin, a man with a soft heart and a sweet voice, had one wish.
"I just hope and pray I can live to see the end of the century, to see how much different the two are," he said in 1993 at the age of 91.
Mr. Calvin got that wish, living 100 years as a mid-Missourian. He witnessed the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, the moon landing and five wars. He died Saturday, April 28, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center.
Born the sixth of nine boys on Feb. 5, 1901, in Ashland, Mr. Calvin loved to sing. He formed the Sunshine Singers at the Woodcrest Primitive Baptist Church. A service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
Mr. Calvin left his mark on Columbia, working as a stonemason on Crowder Hall, Brewer Fieldhouse and the tunnel under south Ninth Street. Known for a lifetime of hard work, he spent a stint with the Works Progress Administration and 18 years driving buses for Stephens College.
Clarence Buescher
Clarence F. Buescher of Columbia died Thursday, April 26, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 89.
Mr. Buescher was born May 16, 1911, in Hopewell to Fred August Buescher and Hilda Elizabeth Luetkemeyer Buescher. He married Bonnie Garrett on Nov. 14, 1946, in Torrington, Wyo.
He owned and operated Buescher Wheel Alignment Shop in Columbia until his retirement in 1984. Mr. Buescher was also a member of the Peace United Church of Christ in Hartsburg.
Mr. Buescher loved traveling. His favorite place to go was Colorado because he loved the West and the mountains.
"He always wanted to travel by car because he wanted to see the scenery," said Lisa Benegas, his granddaughter.
Mr. Buescher was fond of his grandchildren. He took them on trips, taught them how to drive and always gave good back rubs, Benegas said.
"He was a very honest and honorable man," Benegas said. "His word was gold and you could depend on him for anything."
Some of his other hobbies were hunting, woodworking and stock car racing. Mr. Buescher was also a member of the American Bowling Congress.
Visitation for Mr. Buescher was Saturday at Robinson Funeral Home. Services, conducted by Roland Walker, are at 1:30 p.m. today at the Peace United Church of Christ, 121 N. First St., in Hartsburg. Mr. Buescher will be buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 W. Business Loop 70.
Mr. Buescher is survived by his wife, Bonnie Buescher of Columbia; a daughter, Janie Hulen of Paris, Mo.; three children, Darold Buescher of Columbia, Gerald Buescher of Hartsburg and Deanna Phillips of Mexico, Mo.; three brothers, Harding Buescher of Jefferson City, Frederick Buescher of Valdosta, Ga., and Leroy Buescher of Columbia; two sisters, Gladys Brehe of Fresno, Calif., and Eleanora Oelschlaeger of Hermann; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association of Central Missouri, 1316 Parkade Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65203, or Peace United Church of Christ, 121 N. First St., Hartsburg, Mo. 65039.
