Burleigh E. Spitler, 72, of Miner died on Monday, March 29, 2004, at 8:25 a.m. at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born on Jan. 20, 1932, in Lamar, Ark., to the late Harley and Minnie Davis Spitler. He retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service having served in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam era. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and D.A.V. in Dexter and was also a member of the Elks, American Legion and Eagles.

On Sept. 14, 1957, he married Phyllis Buch in Fort Sheridan, Ill., and she survives of the home.

Other survivors include one son, Burleigh Spitler of Brentwood, Tenn.; one granddaughter; two brothers, Elmer Spitler and Kenneth Spitler, both of Sikeston; one sister, Sherley Chamberlain of Dexter; his step-mother, Opal Spitler of Lamar, Ark.; one half-brother, Tommy Spitler of Lamar, Ark.; and three half-sisters, Rita Evans, Rosetta Jones, and Yvonne Bohannon, all of Lamar, Ark.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 1, 2004, at the Bloomfield Veterans Cemetery with Ken Swearingen, the cemetery chaplain officiating and full military honors provided by the Missouri Military Funeral Honor Guard.

Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to: The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, 17357 Stars & Stripes Way, Bloomfield, Mo. 63825.