William L. Painter, 1929-2003, Pilot Grove

William L. Painter, 74, of Pilot Grove, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2004, at Lakeview Care Center in Boonville.

He was born Aug. 24, 1929, in Speed, a son of James Leslie and Cordelia Solomon Painter. On April 20, 1953, in Boonville, he was married to Alice Haller, who survives of the home.

Mr. Painter attended elementary school in Bell Air and Speed. He was a 1948 graduate of Pilot Grove High School. He lived on and operated the Painter family farm all his life. He was baptized at Bell Air Methodist Church. Upon its closing, he became a member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Billingsville. He served on the Cooper County Youth Fair Board and the Cooper County Extension Council. He loved hunting, trapping and attending fish fries with his family and friends. He was a great-great-grandson of Hannah Cole.

Also surviving are two sons, Gene Painter, of Pilot Grove, and Bob Painter, of Boonville; a sister, Marie Fortman, of Pilot Grove; a brother, Edgar "Red" Painter, of Boonville; and four grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a brother, Robert L. Painter.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Pilot Grove, with the Rev. Mary Harris-Koth officiating. Pallbearers will be Bill Geiger, Tim Kueckelhan, Alvin French, Virgil Chamberlain, Dr. John Fortman and Jim Painter. Honorary pallbearers will be Milford Haller, Bill Bryan, Danny Painter, Bob Todd, Steve Shaw, Clay Baslee and Ed Stegner. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Boonville. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Hannah Cole Cemetery Fund in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 35, Pilot Grove, MO 65276.