John W. Varble (Lebanon)'s Obituary
John William Varble, son of Grant E. and Stella Anne Hesker Varble, was born April 6, 1920, near Lebanon, Missouri. He departed this life Monday, December 30, 2013, in Mercy Hospital, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-three years, eight months, and twenty-four days.
On July 15, 1941, he was united in marriage to Eva Jane Rhodes, and to this union six daughters and one son were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Beverly Anne Sides, and Brenda Schuyler; a grandson, Andy Schuyler; a great-grandson, Gunner Nickles; and two sisters, Gertrude Davis, and Georgia Shadel.
John is survived by his loving wife of seventy-two years, Eva, of the home; a son, John Lee Varble, and his wife, Nancy, of Lebanon, Missouri; four daughters, Barbara Sue Nicolais, and her husband, Robert, of Penfield, New York, Janie Cook, and her husband, John, Cindy Lynn Newell, and her husband, Charles, all of Lebanon, Missouri, and Tina Marie Austin, and her husband, Chris, of Mount Vernon, Missouri; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren; a brother, Harold Varble, of Lebanon, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
He was born and raised in the Lebanon area, and graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1939. He served his country faithfully in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1945, and was stationed on the USS Lexington in the Aleutian Islands during part of World War II. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he returned to Eva and they made their home near Lebanon, where they lovingly raised their family. John owned and operated a cattle farm for most of his life and was employed by Detroit Tool Company for forty years. For the last seventeen of those years, he was the night superintendent for the tool and die engineering company, retiring in 1987.
John made his profession of faith in Christ at an early age and was a charter member of Community Baptist Church in Lebanon. He was actively involved in many areas of church work and had served as the church treasurer for twenty years.
He was a long time active member of the Lebanon Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge # 192 and had served as Grand Master for the Missouri State I.O.O.F. Lodge. He had served on the board of directors of the Lebanon Cemetery, the Bolles School, and was a founding member of Water District # 1.
As a young man he enjoyed playing football, and continued to like watching football all through his life. He greatly enjoyed doing woodworking projects, splitting wood, and gardening. His family was always most important in his life and he especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them throughout his ninety-three years.
Memorial donations to Community Baptist Church or I.O.O.F. Lodge, may be left at the funeral home.
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