Elroy Francis Lucas

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Elroy Francis Lucas, 78, Sheldon, Mo., died Monday, March 27, 2006, at his home in Sheldon. He was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Manchester, Mo., to Walter Raymond Lucas and Goldie A. Wright Lucas. He married Katherine Cumbi on May 5, 1951, and she preceded him in death in 1970. He later married Cynthia A. Pyeatte on Oct. 9, 1971, in Columbia, Mo.

Mr. Lucas was a World War II and Korean Army veteran. He served in the Philippines, Korea and Germany. He retired as a medic sergeant. Following the war, most of his working life was spent as a teacher and high school administrator. He was high school principal in Plato, Mo., for six years, and then the principal and math teacher for Sheldon High School for four years until his retirement in 1987. He attended the Sheldon Methodist Church.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Cynthia, include three children, Robert F. Lucas, Liberal, Mo., Gretchen Lucas Coleman, Springfield, Mo., and Chris Lucas, of the home in Sheldon; four brothers, Don Lucas, Ballwin, Mo., David Lucas, Kirkwood, Mo., Jim Lucas, Union, Mo., and John Lucas, Pacific, Mo.; three sisters, Mary Hofstetter, Ballwin, Mo., Joyce Preiss, Manchester, Mo., and Jeannie Toothman, Wright City, Mo.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Katherine, and one sister, Naomi Lucas Davis during the summer of 2005.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., on Thursday, March 30, at the First United Methodist Church, Rolla, Mo., with the Rev. Dan Davis officiating. Interment will follow in Rolla City Cemetery, Rolla. Military Rites will be conducted at the cemetery. The family receives friends from 7-8 p.m., Wednesday, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, Mo., and may call now and until 8 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute to the Sheldon High School Scholarship Fund in memory of Elroy Lucas.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com