Walter F. Thies

Walter F. Thies, 89, of Poplar Bluff died Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Mr. Thies was born Aug. 29, 1921 in Butler County, Mo. He was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Poplar Bluff, and had retired as an agent with State Farm Insurance Company. Mr. Thies was a former Mayor of Poplar Bluff and had served on the Poplar Bluff City Council as well. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving as a fighter pilot during WWII. Mr. Thies enjoyed spending time with his family, being outdoors, singing and watching the St. Louis Cardinal?s play baseball.

On Nov. 18, 1951, he married Ruth H. McAdoo in Poplar Bluff. She preceded him in death on Aug. 6, 1999.

Survivors include four children, Kathleen Butler of Spring Hill, Tenn., Walter D. Thies of Blairstown, NJ, Mary Brown of Jackson, Mo. and Corrine Reese of Florence, Ala.; eleven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Zion Lutheran Church in Poplar Bluff with Pastor Marty Reed officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude?s Children?s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38148-0142, or to Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 No. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, Ind. 46825.