Ben Capshaw

Ben G. Capshaw, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Nov. 17, 2006, at the Missouri Veterans Home.

Born July 27, l923 in Chaffee, Mo., Capshaw was the son of Ira H. and Leora Prosser Capshaw, both deceased. He and the former Peggy Ann Wilkinson were married May 4, 1947, in Chaffee. She preceded him in death on April 5, 1997.

He was also preceded in death by his only sibling, Robert H. Capshaw of Chaffee. Mr. Capshaw is survived by his wife, Mary Sue, and his daughter, Cathie (Nick) Sanazaro and three grandchildren, Andrea, Caroline and Christopher Macier, all of Cuba, Mo. Capshaw is also survived by seven nieces and nephews and their families.

Capshaw served in Europe during World War II as a combat infantry sergeant, and was awarded numerous medals and citations, including the Silver Star, for meritorious performance of duty. Capshaw was awarded the Jubilee of Liberty medal from the Regional Council of Lower France in recognition of military action during the Normandy invasion on its 50th anniversary.

Following military service, Capshaw attended Ranken Technical Institute and Washington University in St. Louis. After joining Amoco Oil Co., Capshaw was promoted through upper levels of management and transferred throughout the United States. In 1966, he resigned as Southwest District manager headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., to become executive vice president of Atlas Plastics Corp. in Cape Girardeau, later purchased by Spartech Plastics. He retired from this position in 1992. Capshaw married Mary Sue Flentge Oct. 12, 1998, and they have enjoyed retirement together in Cape Girardeau.

Capshaw was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, and also a member of the Society of Plastic Engineers, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, American Legion Post 63, Noon Lions Club, St. Marks Masonic Lodge, the Moola Shrine Temple of St. Louis, and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason of the Valley of St. Louis.

Friends may call Sunday, Nov. 19, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 20 at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home with the Rev. Jeff Long officiating. Entombment services will follow in the Memorial Park Mausoleum. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Missouri Honors Team.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Missouri Veterans Home.