Cletus "Curly" Junior Burkhart was born March 17, 1924 in Edina, Missouri. His parents were Melton Frances Burkhart and Mazie Dean Goodwin-Burkhart. On May 21, 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in World War II. His unit was the BTRY D 795th AAA AW BN. His miltary occupational specialty was an anti-aircraft artillery automatic weapons crewman. He received four Bronze Stars along with many other awards and citations. He served in the Battles and Campaigns in Normandy, northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was united in marriage to Wilma Laree Blake-Burkhart on August 19, 1946, in Edina, Missouri. He moved his family to Springfield, Missouri in 1949. He was a retired U.S. Potal service employee of eighteen years. Prior to that he was in retail management with Evans Drug Company in Springfield for eighteen years. Cletus now age 79, passed away at 5:35 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2003 at St. John's Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and five sisters. He is survived by his wife, Wilma Laree Blake-Burkhart; a daugher and son-in-law, Joyce and Walt Morton; a granddaughter and her husband, Melissa and William Hyden; a grandson and wife, Cletus Andrew and Kelly Morton; along with four great-grandchildren, Matthew Hyden, Anna Hyden, Dorothy Hyden and Erin Nicole Morton, all of Springfield. He is also survived by one sister, Eva Helen Fountain, Eldon, MO, and many nieces and nephews. His passions were his family, church, and lake cabin; he was lifetime fan of the SMSU Men's Basketball Team. He was a great joy to everyone. He was loved by many and will be missed by all. It brings peace to know he has gone to be with his family. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Faith Lutheran Church, 1517 Valley Water Mill Road, under direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield. Burial with military rites will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. (News-Leader, Springfield, MO, Thursday, April 10, 2003)