John C. Playter

John C. Playter passed away on Friday, March 6,2009 at Mt. Vernon Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, MO. He was born in Joplin, Missouri June 4, 1918 to Clarence Carpenter and Gertrude Hale Playter. He graduated from Joplin High School in 1935. He went on to attend Stanford University and graduated with a B.A. in Geology. He was called to active duty in July, 1941, serving in the Phillippine Islands. He was a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March and was a prisoner of war of the Japanese for 2 1/2 years. Upon returning to the U.S., he was sent to O'Reilly Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, where he met Charlene Baggett. She was a volunteer serving returning U.S. soldiers. John and Charlene were married October 19, 1945 in Springfield. The couple lived in Colorado and Arizona for the next 5 years where John worked in silver mines. In 1950 they moved to Goodson, Missouri to manage a family turkey farm. In 1960 John and Charlene moved to Bolivar where he served as city manager until he retired in January, 1986. He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene, who died in 1983. He is survived by two daughters, Jane Weiler and husband Joe of Berryton, Kansas and Phyllis Hamilton and husband, Larry of Liberty, Missouri. His grandchildren are Joey and Hannah Weiler of Berryton, Kansas and Michael Rumsey of Springfield, Missouri, Shelly and Mike Renft of Prairie Village, KS and Clay Hamilton of Palo Alto. CA. Great grandchildren are Taylor and Elliott Renft of Prairie Village. KS. John was a faithful member of Bolivar First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and was a choir member for many years. John was a member of the Bolivar Rotary Club for over 50 years. In June, 2006 John moved from his home in Bolivar and became a resident of the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon. Funeral services will be at 11: 00 Wednesday, March 11, 2009 in Bolivar First Baptist Church with Rev. Ray Leininger, Rev. Billy Russell and Rev. Harlan Spurgeon officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at First Baptist Church. Donations in John s memory may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, the Veteran s of Foreign Wars, or the American Legion in care of Murray Funeral Home, P O Box 506, Bolivar, MO 65613. PDF Printable Version

John C. Playter

June 4, 1918 - March 6, 2009