Obituary of Leslie Curtis Suddarth

Leslie Curtis Suddarth Funeral services for Leslie Curtis Suddarth of Elsberry, MO, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2010 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry, MO. Rev. Paul Garven, pastor of Elsberry United Methodist Church, will officiate with burial in Star Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Curtis Joseph Suddarth, Bronson Holland, Rich Harper, Brad Smith, Curtis James Suddarth, Daniel Smith, Austin Suddarth, Sam Smith and Garry Martin. Honorary pallbearers will be Chuck Graham, Louise Smith, Andrew Graham, Tim Suddarth, Candy Suddarth, Connie Moore, Kristen Harper, Lauren Holland, Michelle Suddarth, Krystal Suddarth, Katie Smith and Mason Holland. Mr. Suddarth, 89, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 13, 2010 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Peters, MO. Born July 6, 1920 in rural Lincoln County Missouri, near Elsberry, he was the son of Paul Howard and Louvina Margaret Thompson Suddarth. His mother died when he was very young and his stepmother, Pauline, helped raise him. He was united in marriage on May 17, 1941 in Louisiana, MO to Lutie Annabelle Harrison. This union was blessed with nine children: Curtis Paul, Joyce Annabelle, Leslie Kay, David Wayne, Daniel Ray, Judith Melinda, Clarence Eugene, Sherry Lynn and Christopher Allen. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II from March 9, 1945 until being honorably discharged on July 21, 1946. He attended electrical courses at Florissant Valley Community College. He worked as a foreman for Union Electric and Ameren UE, retiring July 6, 1985 after 38 years. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was a resident of Elsberry since 1950 and helped his community by serving as mayor from 1966 to 1977, serving on the city water board and serving on the Elsberry City Council for many years. He and Lutie Belle were very involved in the Elsberry PTA and helped bring the hot lunch program to the Elsberry Schools. He was a member of American Legion Post #226 in Elsberry. A Baptist by faith, he was active in the Baptist church before his health declined. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Margaret Suddarth; two daughters: Joyce Graham and Leslie Kay "Katie" Suddarth; one son, David Wayne Suddarth; two brothers: Howard Junior Suddarth and Charles Paul Suddarth; two sisters: Alma Logan and May Zumwalt; and his beloved wife of 40 years, Lutie Annabelle Suddarth. Survivors include four sons: Curtis Paul Suddarth and his wife, Margaret, of Bowling Green, MO, Daniel Suddarth and his wife, Cindy of Troy, MO, Clarence Suddarth and Christopher Suddarth, both Elsberry; two daughters: Judith Myers and her husband, Larry of Clarksville, MO and Sherry Ansley and her husband, James, of O'Fallon, MO; one daughter-in-law, Janet Suddarth of Elsberry; 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He also leaves one sister, Genevieve Cunningham of Jerseyville, IL; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2010 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association or the American Cancer Society in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Homes, 107 South Fifth Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com