Charles Bixler

Charles L. Bixler, 73, formerly of Canalou, Mo., and a resident of Cape Girardeau, died at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007, in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 24, 1933, at Steele, Mo., to the late Roy Lee and Addie Elizabeth Hampton Bixler. He was educated in the Canalou school system.

He later joined the U.S. Army and served from 1954 to 1956 during the Korean conflict. He moved to Cape Girardeau after his military service.

He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in education and also received his master's in education from the University of Missouri. He taught history at Cape Central High School and also was the first Central High School boys varsity tennis coach.

He had also been a pharmaceutical representative for the Pfizer drug company and had formerly owned and operated Clark Wheel Alignment Service in Cape Girardeau.

He was married to Patricia A. Hopper on Oct. 5, 1954, in Sikeston, Mo. She survives of the home in Cape Girardeau. He is also survived by one son, Vincent Bixler of Cape Girardeau; one daughter, Lisa A. Hardesty of Cape Girardeau; a brother, James Bixler of Sikeston; three sisters, Sue Smith of Enid, Okla., Shirley Alexander of Levelland, Texas, and Annette Dismuke of Caseyville, Ill. He is survived by four grandchildren, Lindsay Bixler, Nicholas Bixler, Clayton Hardesty and Allie Hardesty, all of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by one brother.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Nunnelee Chapel, with Monsignor Richard Rolwing of St. Francis Xavier Church officiating. Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.