Obituary of Wilfred Bollenbacher

John Wilfred Bollenbacher, 87, lifetime resident of Doniphan, Missouri, died July 30, 2013, at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. He was born July 1, 1926, in the Towles community, rural Ripley County, Missouri, to Samuel and Clara (Raney) Bollenbacher. On April 17, 1948, he was married to Virgie Jane Smith in Doniphan and she survives. Also surviving are two children: son John Bollenbacher and wife, Teresa, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and daughter Sandra Bates and husband, Elton, of Doniphan; three grandsons, Adam Bates (Courtney) of Brentwood, Missouri, and Aaron Bollenbacher (Amy) and Bryan Bollenbacher (Dara) both of Fayetteville, Arkansas; two great-granddaughters, Audrey Bates and Mabrey Bollenbacher; one sister, Glendene Nesbit of Doniphan; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Albert Bollenbacher and William F. (Bill) Bollenbacher. Wilfred was employed by the local Chevrolet dealership from the mid 1940's until his retirement in the mid 1980's. He then purchased the Sears catalog store in Doniphan with his son-in-law, Elton Bates. During this time he also served as the bookkeeper for the Doniphan Special Road District. He was also a member of the board of the Ripley County Memorial Hospital and was a board member of Mercantile Bank in Doniphan. Wilfred was a long-time St. Louis Cardinals fan and rarely missed listening to a ballgame. He also was an avid bowler. He bowled in a league the first year Tower Lanes Bowling Center in Doniphan opened and was still bowling when it closed. He enjoyed participating in the Springfield, Missouri, bowling tournaments with his partner, Willard Mathis. Visitation will be Friday evening, August 2, 2013, from 5-8 PM at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The Funeral service will be Saturday August 3, 2013, at 1 PM at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery. Memorials may be made at Edwards Funeral Home for the Doniphan First Presbyterian Church or UCAN.