Ivy Niswonger

PATTON, Mo. -- Ivy Wesley Niswonger was born Sept. 13, 1927, at Marquand, Mo. He died at Southeast Missouri Hospital Feb. 2, 2004. He was the son of the Rev. O.D. and Alma Robinson Niswonger.

He was preceded in death by a younger brother, Paul R. Niswonger who lived in San Diego, Calif., and his parents.

He is survived by a brother, O.D. Niswonger Jr. of Cape Girardeau; two nephews, O. David Niswonger III of Fenton, Mo., John W. Niswonger of Gordonville; three nieces, Mary Dee Denning of St. Louis, Peggy Niswonger of Jacksonville, Fla., Ivy Garcia of Las Vegas, Nev.; four great-nieces and a great-nephew.

Ivy served in the Army during the last part of World War II as a medic and transported patients from Kobe, Japan, to the West Coast. He was called again into service during the Korean War and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood as a staff sergeant. He was a member of Fischer-Walter Memorial VFW Post 4282 in Perryville, Mo.

He was a graduate of Central High School in Cape Girardeau and attended Southeast Missouri State University. He worked at many jobs in Cape Girardeau, including Harris Field where primary training was given with low wing Fairchild planes to Air Force pilots.

After the war he worked at McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis, where he was involved with building the entire series of fighter planes up to the F-18s. He also worked on the Mercury and Gemini space shuttles. He worked for the company 32 years and retired on his grandfather's farm at Patton.

Funeral arrangements are being furnished by Liley Funeral Home in Patton, where visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6.

The funeral will be at the funeral home chapel Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Scott Moon of Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. Burial will be in Post Oak Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery near Patton.

Memorials may be given to the Post Oak Congregational Meth-odist Church Cemetery Fund.