Ralph Hester, son of the late Charley L. Hester and Eva Lena Stevens Hester, was born Sept. 3, 1918, at Bloomfield and died in the Methodist Hospital North at Memphis on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at the age of 86.

Mr. Hester was retired from the Fruitland Meat Company, a veteran of the United States Army Air Corp serving in World War II, and a resident of Bloomfield.

He was united in marriage to Erma Deloris Cooper on March 17, 1951, at Piggott, Ark. Mrs. Hester preceded him in death on Dec. 20, 1997.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbara McDaniel of Memphis, Tenn., and Sandy Riehn of Cape Girardeau; one brother, Carl Hester of Bloomfield; one sister, Ruth Munday of St. Louis; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Hester and Wayne Hester; two sisters, Juanita Murdock and Agnes Followell.

Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Gary Cooper officiating.

Interment followed in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.