Delbert L. Fern Jr.

Delbert L. Fern, Jr., formerly of Oskaloosa, Missouri, age 87, Belton Missouri, passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at Kansas City, Missouri Research Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 10:30-11:00 a.m. followed by funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 18, at Mt Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Graveside services will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery in Arcadia, Kansas at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 18. Mr. Fern was born on May 2nd, 1922, in Oskaloosa, Missouri. He had a long career in the United States Air Force, serving in both World War II and the Korean War as both an enlisted member of the service and as an officer. After the war, he learned and participated in many hobbies and worked in many professions including real estate, journeyman electrician work, gun smith/dealer, air conditioning installation and repair, and many years as an electronics service technician. He had many interests including his love of flying as a private pilot until his late seventies, spending many hours flying his classic 1947 Luscombe airplane around the country. He was also a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. Mr. Fern was preceded in death by his father Delbert L. Fern, his mother Mary Rose Fern, and his sisters Viola and Louise. He is survived by his sister Dorothy Sanders; his former wives, Laura Mesa and Dottie Evans; his sons Delbert L. Fern, III of Stanley, Kansas, David Fern of Mesa, Arizona, Paul Fern of Fort Worth, Texas; one daughter, Vickie Thornton of Lewisville, Texas; one stepdaughter, Jacquetta Nieto of Riverside, California; two stepsons, Henry Littrell of Riverside, California and Willis Littrell of San Antonio, Texas; thirteen grandchildren including his namesake Delbert L. Fern, IV of Stanley, Kansas and seven great-grandchildren. Mr. Fern was a loving and dedicated father who lived the values he taught his children. He had a special gift for quickly learning about anything and fixing things whether the instructions could be found or not. He was loved deeply and will be missed by all those who loved him. Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.