Vesta Pearl Dunkel

Vesta Pearl (Blackwell) Dunkel, age 91; daughter of Roy and Nannie Florence Blackwell; wife of Charles Franklin Dunkel was born February 28, 1921 in Bolivar, Mo. and went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday January 10, 2013, at her home in Plato, Mo. She was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Florence Blackwell; her husband Charles Franklin Dunkel; one granddaughter Sherry Renee; and two grandsons Edward Hammock and Baby boy Hammock. She is survived by one brother, Glenn Blackwell of Bolivar, MO; one son, James Le Roy Dunkel of Plato, MO; two daughters; Hazel Florine Hammock of Hall Town, MO and Karen Sue Wilhite of Springfield, MO; five granddaughters, Cynthia Ann Hill of Richland MO, Michelle Moseley of Graff, MO, Regina Moise of Devil's Elbow, MO, Sharon Wilhite of Wheatland, MO, and Kristy Trimmell of Springfield, MO; two grandsons Charlton James Dunkel of St. Roberts, MO and James Andrew Wilhite of Springfield, MO. Vesta also has nine 5th generation grandchildren (two boys and seven girls.) Vesta attended Bolivar High School at Bolivar, MO and graduated in 1939. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education from SMS in Springfield, MO in 1959 and continued working toward her Master's degree until her retirement from Plato School District in 1988. On April 22, 1944, Vesta was married to Charles Franklin Dunkel. They had three children. Vesta and Charles lived in Bolivar until they returned to Herrington Air Force Base in Kansas, where Charles worked.. They later moved to White City, Kansas where they worked on a large ranch. Later, Vesta and Charles returned to Bolivar where they ran a milk route until she returned to teaching. While at Bolivar Vesta was the pianist for the women's part of the MFA organization, the JFA. Vesta accepted Christ as her Savior in 1954 at Mt. Gilead Church where she remains a member to this day. In 1955, Vesta graduated from the nursing school in Dallas Texas as an LPN, also receiving her license to work as a nurse in MO. Vesta began attending Plato Baptist Church in 1981 and actively worked in the church singing in the choir, filling in as needed as the pianist, and doing whatever job needed to be done. Vesta loved the lord and loved to sing. She felt that you could help people by using God's word through song. Vesta loved to cook and work in her garden. She always had flowers on her front porch even when she became unable to garden. Vesta loved her family. She was always willing to help in any way she could. Her home was always open to whoever came. Vesta was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She will be missed by all those who knew her. It is wonderful to know that she is where she has long prepared to go, in the presence of the Lord. A visitation will be held from 6:00-7:00pm Monday evening, January 14, 2013 at the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, Missouri. A second visitation will be held from 10am to 11am prior to the funeral service, at the First Baptist Church in Plato, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Tuesday morning, January 15, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Plato, Missouri with Reverend Ed Kincheloe officiating under the care and direction of the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, Missouri. Burial will follow at Mount Gilead Cemetery in Bolivar, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys Town,200 Flanagan Blvd,PO Box 6000, Boys Town NE 68010-9988. Friends and family may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

Vesta Pearl Dunkel

February 28, 1921 - January 10, 2013