Frederick Wilferth

Frederick Miller "Bill" Wilferth, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born Jan. 12, 1913, in Millersville, son of John Fred and Ethel Kathryn Miller Wilferth. He and I.V.D. Seabaugh were married May 28, 1938. She passed away Jan. 15, 1995. He and LouVera Green Daugherty were married Jan. 1, 1996.

Fred attended school in Millersville and Jackson. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1934 and received a master's degree from Southern Illinois University in 1954.

Retiring in 1974, Fred was a teacher and public school administrator 42 years, serving the school systems of Kurreville, Millersville, Oak Ridge, Bloomsdale and Cape Girardeau. He served as principal at Washington Elementary, Schultz, and Central High School. He was an Air Force communications instructor at Scott Air Force Base in 1942 and 1943.

Fred was a member of Millersville United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee and Sunday School teacher many years. He was a member of Cape Girardeau Exchange Club and numerous educational related organizations.

He was involved with Cole's Grocery Store in Cape Girardeau, the Jackson Roller Rink which he built with Elmer Seabaugh, and the Trading Post in Millersville. After retirement, he farmed at Millersville.

He is survived by his wife; a son, Fred Rockne Wilferth, and daughter-in-law, Judith R. Wilferth of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, John Rockne Wilferth and wife Melinda Dame Wilferth of Rancho Santo Margarita, Calif., Jill Ann Smirl and husband John August Smirl of Eagle, Colo., James Roper Wilferth and wife Chrisy Crain Wilferth of Cape Girardeau, Joseph Miller Wilferth and wife Anna Welton Wilferth of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; nine great-grandchildren, Briggs Rockne Wilferth and Melanie Blake Gilmore, Henry August, Ivy Katheryn and George William Smirl, James Crain "Bo" and Anne Meredith Wilferth, and Turner Rockne and Jude Miller Wilferth.

He was preceded in death by his wife, I.V.D.; his parents; a brother, Gene Wilferth; and a sister, Elaine Smith.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Pastor Ron Watts of La Croix United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Pallbearers are Jim and Joe Wilferth, Stanley Smith, Rodney Miller, LaRoy R. Roper Jr. and Bob Proffer. Honorary pallbearers are John Wilferth and August Smirl.

Memorial contributions would be appreciated by Millersville United Methodist Church and the Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation.