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Wars:	World War II in the Pacific, Australia, and New Guinea with the 43rd Engineers
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Winferd Upchurch, age 93, of Glen Allen; passed away on March 9, 2012 at his residence.

He was born February 25, 1919, second son of Oscar and Octa Rhodes Upchurch. He married LaVerne Aliene Woods at Corning Arkansas on November 9, 1945 shortly after returning from military service. He served his country in the US Army for 4 years in the Pacific, Australia, and New Guinea with the 43rd Engineers.

To this union three children were born; Winferd Lynn, Sharon Jean (Dwight) Robbins of Fredericktown, and Steven (Marcia Thiele) Upchurch of Glen Allen; seven grandchildren, Michael Dwight (Tonya) Robbins, Lara Merielle (Robert) Owens, Jonathan Lynn Robbins, Robert Oscar (Tiffany Jordan) Upchurch, Karen Rose (T, J,) Null, Matt Winferd (Lacy Welker) Upchurch, Jenna Dawn (Lucas) Simmons, fourteen great-grandchildren; Mya and Anna Robbins, Matt and Drew Owens, Daniel, Ethan, Ariel, Jared and Cole Upchurch, Levi, Dinah and Lydia Null, Abbigail and Garret Simmons. Sisters Mary Elizabeth Woods, Jacquelyn (Keith) Huffman both of Ironton also survive.

He is preceded in death by his parents, son Winferd Lynn, brother Oscar Jr., and sister Sada Josephine.

Winferd learned carpentry and farming at an early age. He and LaVerne purchased a farm west of Glen Allen after they were married where they raised their family. A good steward of the land and a wise manager, he and LaVerne worked together through difficulty and joy, Winferd was an avid reader, and loved visiting people. He was known for his quick wit and interesting memories. He became a Christian in his youth and made a covenant with God to serve him faithfully if he returned safely home from World War II. He was raised in the Baptist faith and later joined the Glen Allen Methodist church where he had served as a Sunday School Teacher and sang Tenor in the Choir.

He also served his community as a member of the Bollinger County Co-operative board for many years, and the Woodland R-4 School board as they built the School on Highway 34. Winferd will be remembered by family and friends for many strong character traits, hard work, determination, neighborliness, a sense of honor and the triumph of a life served in faith.

Visitation will be Monday, March 12, 2012 from 11:00 to 1:00 PM at the Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. Funeral services will be Monday at 1:15 at the Glen Allen United Methodist Church with Pastor Kim Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in the Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Missouri Honors Team.