James Killen Sr.

James H. Killen Sr., 80, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born Nov. 9, 1923, in Lauderdale County, Ala., son of Benton and Alma King Killen.

He and Gertrude Reiter were married Jan. 28, 1956, in Arkansas.

He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946. He owned a retail specialty manufacturing firm before retirement. He was a greeter at LaCroix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, James Killen Jr. of Bowling Green, Ky., Dr. Michael Killen of Cape Girardeau and Thomas Killen of Franklin, Ky.; three daughters, Diane Hill of Moulton, Ala., Susan Spurgeon of Florence, Ala., and Kathy Sanderson of Rogersville, Ala.; three sisters, Mary Frank Curtis of Florence, Ala., Betty Holden of Lexington, Ala., and Nell Plumber of Mishawaka, Ind.; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ron Watts officiating.