LUTHER WINCHESTER

CHARLESTON -- Luther Winchester, 72, of Charleston died Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born July 7, 1926, at Cape Girardeau, son of William Henderson and Lillian Anderson Winchester. He was married to Sally Burke for 54 years.

He was associated in business with his father at Winchester Chevrolet and Buick in Charleston. He became owner and operator of Winchester Chevrolet in New Madrid prior to moving to Galveston, Texas. He lived in Galveston for 22 years where he operated a service station and a car rental agency.

He returned to Charleston in 1988 where he became manager of the Mississippi County License Bureau for the past six years.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Charleston, the Kiwanis Club and the Boy Scouts of America. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife; his mother; two sons, John Luther Winchester of Nashville, Tenn., and John G. Champion of Midland, Texas; three daughters, Jeanne Ann Thompson of Austin, Texas, Mary Wagner of Schulenburg, Texas, and Emily Ryan of Charleston; a sister, Ann Waggener of Houston, Texas; and 14 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Friends may call at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Charleston. The Revs. Rick White and Richard Combs will officiate, with burial in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.