Lester Wilfong

Lester "June" Wilfong, 77, of Burfordville died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 15, 1930, in Perryville, Mo., to Lester B. and Nellie J. (Ruesler) Wilfong. He and Wanda Hahn were married Sept. 9, 1956.

A 1948 graduate of Patton High School, he entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 9, 1952, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant on Dec. 19, 1953. After working several years for the Missouri Department of Transportation, he began a 35-year career with Riverside Regional Library in Jackson in 1957. He drove the bookmobile for many years before retiring in 1992. A lifelong farmer, Mr. Wilfong raised cattle on family farms in Burfordville and Patton, Mo., before retiring in 2007.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Jackson since 1965, an ordained deacon and, for 21 years, director and Sunday school teacher in the children's department.

Other affiliations include Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158, Jackson; past master and member of Excelsior Masonic Lodge 441, Jackson; 32nd Degree Scottish Rite; Shriners Moolah Temple, St. Louis; and Sword of Bunker Hill.

Survivors include his wife and two sisters, Marie Conrad of Jackson and Shirley Mayberry of Sedgewickville, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mae; an infant brother and infant sister.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. A Masonic service will be held at 4:30 p.m.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Carter Frey officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with graveside military honors.