Obituary of Richard Alvin York

Funeral services for Richard Alvin York, Sr. of Eolia, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Frank Welch, pastor of Peno Baptist Church in Bowling Green, MO, will officiate with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Richard H. York, Ryan York, Norman Chambers, Robert Calvin, Roy Niemeyer, and Ben Eckler. Honorary Pallbearers will be Rosetta Calvin, Felicia Kroencke, Rachel Chambers, Tina Niemeyer, Melinda Grote, Melissa Grayson, Mary Ann Twyer, Terra Lynn White, Angela Eckler and Samantha York. Mr. York, 87, died Tuesday afternoon, November 18, 2008 at the Pike County Memorial Hospital in Louisiana, MO. Born September 1, 1921 in Waynesville, MO, he was the son of Pete and Nettie Mae Church York. He was a 1941 graduate of Waynesville High School. He was united in marriage on June 7, 1942 in St. Louis, MO to Felicia Mary "Phyllis" Comia. This union was blessed with five children: Catherine Mae, Richard A. Jr., David Michael, Rose Mary, and Douglas Joseph. Mr. York worked for several years as a lathe operator for Eaton Corporation in St. Louis, MO, retiring in 1977. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Nettie York; six sisters: Ruby Gladden, Adah Hill, Dolpha Ledbetter, Lois Hill and two infants; two grandsons: Robert York and Jon Kroencke; and his beloved wife of 44 years, Felicia "Phyllis" York who died December 17, 1986. Survivors include three sons: Richard "Ray" York Jr. and his wife, Rose, of Elsberry, David York and his friend, Jeanette, of Owensville, MO, and Douglas "Joe" York and his wife, Sherry, of Troy, MO; two daughters: Catherine Grote and her husband, Larry Albert, of Bowling Green, and Rose Mary White of Hannibal, MO; seventeen grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren and four great, great-grandchildren. He also leaves two brothers: Merle York and his wife, Nona, of Mexico, MO, and Maurice York and his wife, Jewel, of Richland, MO; one sister, Nadine Dye and her husband, Herman, of Waynesville, MO; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.