Ralph Hester

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Ralph Hester, 86, of Bloomfield died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at Methodist Hospital North in Memphis, Tenn.

He was born Sept. 3, 1918, at Bloomfield, son of Charley L. and Eva Lena Stevens Hester. He and Erma Deloris Cooper were married March 17, 1951, in Piggott, Ark. She preceded him in death Dec. 20, 1997.

Mr. Hester was formerly of Cape Girardeau and was retired from Fruitland Dressed Meat.

He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in World War II.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbra Hester-McDaniel and fiance Roy Jenkins of Memphis, Tenn., Sandy Riehn of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Carl Hester of Bloomfield; a sister, Ruth Munday of St. Louis; three grandchildren, Nathan McDaniel and Bethany McDaniel of Memphis, Laurie Riehn Wood and husband Craig of Farmington, Mo.; and three great-granddaughters, Hannah, Chloe and Michaela Wood.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and Wayne Hester, and two sisters, Juanita Murdock and Agnes Followell.

Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo., from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Gary Cooper, a nephew, officiating. Burial will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, with full military honors.