Von Price

Utah Von Price, 91, of Cape Girardeau and former longtime resident of Gosnell, Arkansas, passed from this life Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born in Mountain View, Arkansas, to James W. and Leo Jenkins Price.

Von was a retired technical sergeant with the United States Marine Corps and Marine recruiter in Cape Girardeau. He was a World War II veteran of the 36-day Battle of Iwo Jima, and was a machine gun crewman with the Fifth Marine Division in February 1945. The assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead.

He served in the Korean War as a landing craft driver with the First Marine Division at the Battle of Inchon on Sept. 15, 1950. This daring amphibious operation was conceived by Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur and turned the war.

Von retired as a job training representative with the Missouri Department of Employment Security. He was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church.

Survivors include a son, Robert "Bob" Price of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Rita Price Cox of Phoenix; six grandchildren: Amy Wood, Christy Jimmerson, Robin (Adrian) Tamas, Leslie Cox, Stephanie (Eric) Knight and Richard Swartwood; five great-grandchildren, Erin Wood, James Wood, Stephen Tamas, Collin Tamas and Steven Knight.

Also two brothers, James (Joyce) C. Price of Greenbriar, Arkansas, and Max (Erlene) Price of Martin, Tennessee; three sisters, Dorothy Kinkead of Blytheville, Arkansas, Betty Sims of Tampa, Florida, and Barbara Jean Chambers of Phoenix.

Von was preceded in death by his parents, James and Leo Price; and his wife of 56 years, Mary Lynn Price.

The family will receive friends from noon until service time Saturday at Cobb Funeral Home in Blytheville.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Ken Klingler officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Condolences to the family may be expressed online at cobbfuneralhome.com.