FORMER CHAFFEE MAYOR DIES

CHAFFEE -- Former mayor Robert H. Capshaw, 76, of Chaffee died Friday, May 12, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Capshaw was widely know in Southeast Missouri, having served as Chaffee's mayor from 1971 to 1987. He had previously served six years as a council member and was involved in area community organizations for many years.

Capshaw sought the mayor's office again in the April election, citing his leadership and prior service to the community. At the time he said he owed Chaffee for everything good in his life and he loved the town and its people. He said he always did what he thought was right and opposed what he thought was wrong.

Capshaw was born Feb. 28, 1919, in Chaffee, the son of Ira H. and Leora Prosser Capshaw. He married Juanita Scheeter of Chaffee April 18, 1942.

He served 43 months in the Army during WWII and received a citation for bravery while serving on Peleliu Island in the southeast Pacific in January 1945.

Upon returning to Chaffee, he founded the Capshaw Motor Car Co., which he operated for 37 yeras. He owned and developed many tracts of land in Chaffee through the years.

He served two terms as president of the Chaffee Chamber of Commerce, five terms as commander of the Chaffee VFW, one term as commander of the Chaffee American Legion and five years on the Board of the Directors of Cape State Bank and Trust Co, now Mercantile Bank, in Cape Girardeau.

He was a charter member of the Chaffee Elks Lodge, a past 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a past member of the Chaffee Rotary Club and a past school board member at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau.

In 1986 Capshaw was honored by the University of Missouri-Columbia as "Mizzou's Super Parent." From 1965 to 1988, Capshaw's children attended the university and obtained numerous degrees, including four law degrees.

Survivors include his ex-wife, Juanita Capshaw of Chaffee; two sons, Robert H. Capshaw II of New York, N.Y., and Ben Capshaw of St. Louis; five daughters, Brenda Welsh and Jodie Asel, both of Columbia, Barbara Kohlfeld of Cape Girardeau and Joyce Capshaw and Lisa Cushing, both of St. Louis; one brother, Ben Capshaw of Cape Girardeau; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The time for Sunday's visitation at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee has not been set. The time for the Funeral Mass on Monday morning at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee will be announced.