Obituary of Chester Ben Fakes

Chester Ben Fakes Funeral Services for Chester Ben Fakes of Elsberry, MO were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at Star Hope Baptist Church near Elsberry, MO. Rev. Bruce Walker of St. Charles, MO and Rev. Bryan Fakes of Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, MO officiated with burial in Star Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers were: Jonathan Fakes, John Thomas Fakes, John Wagner Fakes, Bryan Fakes, David Clay, Andrew Clay, Tim Clay and Shawn Swank. Mr. Fakes, 84, died early Saturday morning, April 21, 2007 at Elsberry Healthcare Center near Elsberry. Born August 22, 1922 in Hanston, KS, he was the son of Ben Chester and Alice J. Meade Fakes. He graduated in 1939 from Hanston High School in Hanston, KS. He served his country in the United States Army AirCorp during World War II where he served in the South Pacific (Australia, Philippines and Okinawa) as a radio operator for the 380th Bomber Group from 1943 until being honorably discharged in 1945, in which he had received a Corporal rank. He was united in marriage on August 25, 1941 to Mildred Mary Salmans in Dodge City, KS. This union was blessed with one daughter and three sons. He was employed for many years as a section foreman for Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, retiring 1982. He was very active and served as a deacon in the First Baptist Church in Elsberry where he was a choir member, Sunday school teacher and provided music to many area churches. In later years he and Mildred joined the Silex Baptist Church and occasionally assisted with the music. He was a volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels, and a member of the Circle L Square Dance Club in Louisiana, MO and St. Peters Squares in St. Peters, MO. He was also a 60-year member of the American Legion Post #226 in Elsberry, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (Teamsters), he was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and he was also active in the Cuivre River Baptist Association, serving as Training Union Director and various other positions. Both he and Mildred were DAR volunteers of the year in 1998 for their service work and their work for Meals on Wheels. He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. He also enjoyed playing his guitar and singing with friends. Mr. Fakes was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Mildred Fakes, who died November 3, 2005; one brother, Edward Max Fakes; and one brother-in-law, Richard Hausgen. Survivors include three sons: David Fakes and his wife, LaVerna, Leon Fakes, and Wes Fakes and his wife, Marcia, all of Elsberry; one daughter, Dr. Sandra Adkins and her husband, Nick, of Peoria, IL; one brother, Kenneth Fakes and his wife, Charlene, of Elsberry; and one sister, Jessie Hausgen, also of Elsberry. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren; twenty-two great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home (or) Samaritan's Purse in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.