William Lindsay

William J. Lindsay, 81, of Cape Girardeau died peacefully at his home Thursday, June 9, 2011, in the company of his loved ones.

He was born July 13, 1929, in Highland Park, Mich., son of Rufus W. and Cora Marie Slinkard Lindsay. He was raised on a farm in Cape Girardeau County and graduated from College High School in 1947. He played basketball, served on student council and was a member of the National Honor Society.

He and Betty J. Kirkpatrick were married June 10, 1951. He later married Faye Griffith in 1984. She died in May 2001.

Mr. Lindsay enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1949 and served for 30 years, retiring in 1979. He was stationed in nine states and seven countries and was fortunate to be able to move his family with him to many of these places.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, he worked for the Missouri State Employment office from 1980 to 1983 and then for Procter & Gamble for 12 years, retiring in 1995.

While living in Jackson, he volunteered with the Boy Scouts in the early 1980s with his youngest son, Jeff. He later volunteered at Southeast Hospital in the radiology department and in the hospice program for several years. He also delivered for the Meals on Wheels program.

He was an active member of Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church, serving anywhere and everywhere he was needed. He enjoyed growing vegetable and flower gardens, working in his wood shop, tinkering with electronics and going to garage sales and antique shops. In recent years he enthusiastically returned to traveling as a participant in numerous bus tours around the country. He also enjoyed many evenings down by the Mississippi River with "The Sundowners," a loosely organized group who met to visit and watch the river traffic.

He is survived by five children, Teri (Jim) Burke and Randy Lindsay, both of Jackson, Marc (Patty) Lindsay of Dallas, Suzanne Duplissey of Forney, Texas, and Jeff Lindsay of Sylva, N.C. Also surviving are 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Kenneth (Roxie) Lindsay of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Joyce (Bob "Red") Clifton of Jackson and Judy (Willis) Smith of Milan, Ill. Finally, he is survived by his very dear friend and companion of eight years, Peggy Fassell of Cape, who made his later years very full and happy.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel and again from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday, at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Debbie Arvelo and hospice chaplain Stan Hargis officiating. Burial will follow at Hobbs Chapel Cemetery with full military honors by the Missouri Honors Team.

The family would like to express their thanks to Southeast Hospice for their compassionate and loving care during the last year of their father's illness. They are also very grateful to Betty Wiley and Sydonia Reed, who worked daily to meet their father's every need and provide for his comfort. In doing so they became his friends as well.

Memorial contributions may be made to Southeast Hospice or Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.