Obituary of George Richard Birkhead

Funeral Services for George Richard Birkhead of New London, MO, formerly of Winfield, MO will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Rev. Brian Ninedorf, pastor of the First Baptist Church of New London, and Rev. Jim Miller, pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Center, MO, will officiate with burial in Star Hope Cemetery near Elsberry, MO. Mr. Birkhead, 86, passed away Wednesday morning, September 14, 2016 at the Willow Center in Hannibal, MO. Born February 22, 1930 in Winfield, he was one of ten children born to Benjamin Oren and Cora Parker Birkhead. Raised in Winfield, he was a 1948 graduate of Winfield High School. He worked for the Mobil Oil Marine Inland Water Ways as a junior engineer for two years. He served his country during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division stationed in Germany from February 5, 1952 until he was honorably discharged on January 6, 1954. He then served in the U.S. Army Reserves for five years. Upon returning from the Army, George started farming with a dairy herd. He loved farming and raising cattle. George was united in marriage to the love of his life, Anna May Brand on October 26, 1957 at Star Hope Church near Elsberry. They moved to New London in 1968 where he farmed and raised Hereford cattle and hogs. He retired from farming on December 31, 1999. George was member of and served as a Deacon of New Salem Baptist Church near Winfield for several years and later at First Baptist Church of New London. He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Cora Birkhead; two brothers: Benjamin Oren Birkhead, Jr. and James Donald Birkhead; and two sisters: Martha Ellen Wayman and Dorothy Elaine Hilton. Survivors include his beloved wife of 58 years, Anna May Birkhead of New London; one brother, John Milton Birkhead and his wife, Linda, of New London; four sisters: Marjorie Marie Wagner Montgomery of Troy, MO, Helen Lee Tayon of Winfield, Jean Frances Brown and her husband, Bob, of Troy, and Sharon Sue Benny and her husband, Gary, also of Troy. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon until time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Winfield. Memorials may be made to the James E. Carey Cancer Center in Hannibal or to the Student Nursing Department at Hannibal-LaGrange College in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 3838 East Highway 47, P.O. Box 253, Winfield, MO 63389.