By Staff
Brewton
Mr. Richard Walter Hesler, 85, of Brewton died Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 at his residence after an extended illness. He was a native of Ohio and a former resident of Niceville, Fla. before moving to Brewton in 1981. He was a retired high school teacher with the State of Florida and a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II veteran being a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Brewton, the Brewton Lion's Club, Masonic Lodge, American Legion Post 79 and a member of the VFW. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Velma Nall Hesler; a son, Fred Stokes and a son-in-law, Jack Mahood.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Stokes Hesler of Brewton; three sons, Robert Henn of Columbus, Ga., Ben Stokes III of Mobile and Roy Stokes of Brewton; five daughters, Cathy Butts of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., Valeria Mahood of Pensacola, Fla., Doris Stokes Keese of Flomaton and Carolyn Stokes Jennings and Kaki Stokes Baker, both of Brewton; 23 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Keese, the Rev. John Finklea and the Rev. Jack Fitts officiating. Burial followed at Hopewell Cemetery in Milton, Fla. with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Pallbearers were Tony Mathieu, Matt Mahood, Daniel Butts, Philip Jennings, Steve Jennings, David Jennings, Will Ruzik, Martin Broomes, Bill Stokes, David Stokes, John Stokes, B.F. Stokes IV and Stevens Stokes. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Baraca Sunday School Class and the Brewton Lion's Club.