Judge William Rader

Judge William Sherman Rader, 89, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

He was born April 12, 1921, in Broken Bow, Okla., to Dr. William S. and Florence Klink Rader. The Rader family moved to Clarksville, Ark., in 1923 from Oklahoma.

He and Birdie Lane Wright were married June 2, 1950, at Central Christian Church in Texarkana, Texas.

Rader served with the Army in the Pacific, where he was stationed in Australia, New Zealand and Japan during World War II. While in Japan he taught English and was a correspondent for the Arkansas Gazette.

He graduated from Clarksville High School and from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. He earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Rader moved to Cape Girardeau in the late 1950s to practice law with the Oliver and Oliver Law Firm. He later formed a law practice with Stan Grimm. Judge Rader served as circuit judge in Cape Girardeau County from 1980 to 1990. His work allowed him to help people improve their lives while upholding the law. Upon retirement he served as a senior judge in various counties until 2007.

He was a member of Abbey Road Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where he was a life elder. He served on the church board and was a former choir director. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters and Lions Club.

Survivors include his wife, Birdie Rader of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Jane Rader DeBoe and husband Tom of Boca Raton, Fla., Beth Hennessey and husband Chris of Grand Rapids, Mich.; two sisters, Katherine Garrett and Helen Fulton of Clarksville; two grandchildren, William S. DeBoe and wife April of Delray Beach, Fla., and William Curran Hennessey of Grand Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Abbey Road Christian Church, with the Rev. Rodger Kiepe officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be given to Abbey Road Christian Church, University of the Ozarks in Clarksville and Chateau Girardeau Foundation.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.