Winferd Upchurch

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Winferd Upchurch, 93, of Glenallen, Mo., passed away Friday, March 9, 2012, at his residence.

He was born Feb. 25, 1919, second son of Oscar and Octa Rhodes Upchurch. He married LaVerne Aliene Woods at Corning, Ark., on Nov. 9, 1945, shortly after returning from military service. He served his country in the U.S. Army for four years in the Pacific, Australia and New Guinea with the 43rd Engineers.

To this union three children were born, Winferd Lynn; Sharon Jean (Dwight) Robbins of Fredericktown, Mo.; and Steven (Marcia Thiele) Upchurch of Glenallen; seven grandchildren, Michael Dwight (Tonya) Robbins; Lara Merielle (Robert) Owens; Jonathan Lynn Robbins; Robert Oscar (Tiffany Jordan) Upchurch; Karen Rose (T.J.) Null; Matt Winferd (Lacy Welker) Upchurch; Jenna Dawn (Lucas) Simmons; 14 great-grandchildren, Mya and Anna Robbins; Matt and Drew Owens; Daniel, Ethan, Ariel, Jared and Cole Upchurch; Levi, Dinah and Lydia Null; and Abbigail and Garret Simmons. Two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Woods and Jacquelyn (Keith) Huffman, both of Ironton, Mo., also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Winferd Lynn; a brother, Oscar, Jr.; and a sister, Sada Josephine.

Winferd learned carpentry and farming at an early age. He and LaVerne purchased a farm west of Glenallen after they were married, where they raised their family. A good steward of the land and a wise manager, he and LaVerne worked together through difficulty and joy. Winferd was an avid reader and loved visiting people. He was known for his quick wit and interesting memories. He became a Christian in his youth and made a covenant with God to serve him faithfully if he returned safely home from World War II. He was raised in the Baptist faith and later joined the Glenallen Methodist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and sang tenor in the choir.

He also served his community as a member of the Bollinger County Cooperative Board for many years, and the Woodland School Board, as they built the school on Highway 34. Winferd will be remembered by family and friends for many strong character traits, hard work, determination, neighborliness, a sense of honor and the triumph of a life served in faith.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. The funeral will be held at 1:15 p.m. Monday at Glenallen United Methodist Church with Pastor Kim Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Missouri Honors Team.