Benton Barber

Benton E. Barber, 81, of Jackson, formerly of Brazeau, Missouri, passed away Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

One of five children, he was born March 28, 1933, in Brazeau to Phillip W. and Florence Murray Barber. He and Irene Schuessler were married Aug. 20, 1960, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, Missouri.

Benton was raised in Brazeau and attended the former elementary school in Brazeau.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, serving honorably from May 19, 1954, to March 8, 1956.

Benton was a carpenter and farmer. He worked the Barber family farm in Brazeau until 1980, when he and Irene moved to Jackson. He was a member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson; active member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, formerly serving as elder and trustee; former member of the Presbyterian Church in Brazeau, and American Legion Post 133 in Perryville.

Loving survivors include his wife of 54 years, Irene Barber of Jackson; three sons, Lenn (Rhonda) Barber and Scott (Marla) Barber of Perryville, Missouri, and Jason (Michelle) Barber of Jackson; six grandchildren, Annie, Becky, and Kendall Barber, Jenna (Jesse) Unverferth and son Aidan, all of Perryville, and Josh and Katie Barber of Jackson; three sisters, Lois Neislein of Largo, Florida, Joann (Doyle) Lane of Brazeau and Sue (Gene) King of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Renee Barber in 1967; a sister, Phyllis Hamlin; and his parents.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. It will conclude with the observance of an American Legion honor guard service, courtesy of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post. The family also will receive friends from 9 a.m. to service time Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Grant Gillard officiating. Interment will be in Brazeau Presbyterian Church Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorials to the building fund of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.