OBITUARY – BUDDY EARL ALEXANDER – BENTON

Buddy Earl Alexander, 79, of Benton, passed away at 1:47 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 at his home.

He was born in Bloomington, Illinois on July 26, 1933, the son of Arlie Earl and Ada Hazel (Carlton) Alexander.

Mr. Alexander served during the Korean War with the 135th Engineering Battalion Headquarters Company in the 44th Infantry Division.

He was a graduate of Benton High School, the Class of 1952.  Mr. Alexander attended Lockyear’s  Business College from 1953 to 1955, he then helped his parents operate the grocery store for the next 25 years.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church of West City.

Mr. Alexander is survived by his brother, Bill Alexander and wife Dolores of Plano, Texas; four nieces, Vicki Loven, Evansville, Indiana, Sydney Renee Hoesch, of Zeeland, Michigan, Melissa Joy Doyle, Naperville, Illinois and Marlene Joy Ridley, of Frisco, Texas.

Also surviving is two nephews, Earl Newman Alexander, Fort Worth, Texas and Ronald Dean Alexander, Centralia, Illinois.

Mr. Alexander was preceded in death by his parents and one sister-in-law, Betty Gunter.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 at the First Baptist Church of West City with the Rev. Bert Mitchell officiating.  Burial with military rites will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church of West City.

The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.