HOWARD E. METHENY SR.

Howard E. Metheny Sr. of 2541 Ranchito Drive, died Friday, July 18, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was 70 years old.

He was born Aug. 21, 1926, in Gravel Hill, son of Samuel and Daisy Robinson Metheny. He grew up in Fornfelt, and in February 1948 he married Alvera Enderle, who preceded him in death Dec. 24, 1960. He married Linda Meyer on Aug. 19, 1961, in Cape Girardeau. She survives the home.

After graduating from business college, he took his first job at Schneider Equipment as a bookkeeper. From there he went to work for Burton Gerhardt Construction, Delta Asphalt and for 28 years was vice-president of Girardeau Contractors. He served as president of Missouri Associated General Contractors and was a past board president of Equal Employer Opportunity. He operated Metheny Book Store in Cape Girardeau and in 1985 started Pavement Recycling Inc., a company now being operated with his son, Todd Metheny.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy in which he served on the U.S.S.L.S.T. 726 and 990 as a machinist mate first class. While in the service, he received the American Area Victory Medal, and two stars from the Asiatic Pacific theatre. He was present when the armistice with Japan was signed on the U.S.S. Missouri.

A charter member of Kimbelland Country Club, he was an avid golfer. He is an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of VFW Post 3838 and the Elks Lodge. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

He is survived by three sons, Stanley, of Leawood, Kan., Eugene, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Todd, of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Brenda Walter of St. Peters and Rhonda Metheny of Silver Springs, Md.; one brother, Thelbert Lee Metheny of Oak Ridge; two sisters, Betty Frost of Los Angeles, Calif., and Neomia Denman of San Diego, Calif.; and 10 grandchildren.

One brother and two sisters preceded him in death.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel. Parish prayers will be held tonight at 7 p.m., followed by the KC rosary at 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 3838 will conduct graveside services Monday at St. Mary's Cemetery.