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CDR Virgil Thomas Faulkenberry, USN (Retired)
Virgil Thomas Faulkenberry - Legacy Memorial Website I created and maintain this site in honor of my father. He was my hero. He graduated as the valedictorian from Ellington High School. He continued his education by earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from the University of Missouri, his Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University and a Certificate of Advanced Studies from Old Dominion University. He joined the National Guard as a forester, which guided him to his career in the United States Navy. During his 27 years of military service, CDR Faulkenberry participated in the Korean War while on the USS Missouri. He earned his aviation wings in 1952 in Pensacola, Florida. While stationed there he married Anna his bride of 60 years. After his retirement from the U.S. Navy he mentored young adults as an N.J.R.O.T.C. Instructor at Tabb High School. He served the community by volunteering in Boy Scout/Explorers, MYF, PTA, and church activities and as a neighborhood mentor. He enjoyed gardening and sharing his love of plants with everyone. Later in his life he developed Parkinson's Disease. It was difficult to see him struggle as the disease progressed. His health began to decline from this as well as heart problems and then cancer. Taking on care giving responsibilities I learned a lot about Parkinson's disease, the healthcare system, patience and compassion. Paul Faulkenberry, Jr. Paul Faulkenberry, Jr. - Legacy Memorial Website I created and maintain this site in honor of my uncle. Paul was a multi-talented individual. His talents included music, art, and acting, directing plays, collecting antiques, coaching people in writing skills, writing poetry, and gourmet cooking, sponsor in Al-anon, and serving as a public servant. He was interested in local politics, welfare of the people and gardening. In high school he led his marching band as a drum major and won the state championship in singing. After he graduated from high school he visited his brother Virgil and his family in Imperial Beach, CA and sang with the Balboa Starlight Opera. He was often asked to sing at ceremonies, churches, and weddings. He learned to play the piano but often went to Europe in the slow seasons to improve his opera skills. He enrolled in the Clover Bloom School of Hair Styling. In basic training he was an expert rifle marksman. He served one tour in the Army of four years as a Chaplin's assistant at Ft. Jackson, SC. While he was at Ft. Jackson he learned administration, organization and leadership skills. He later moved to Eminence, MO back home and converted his parent’s house into a bed and breakfast where he served his guests gourmet cooking. After his bed and breakfast burned down he concentrated on collecting antiques and gardening. His house was always surrounded by the beauty of plants and nature where song birds sung in the trees. He also built a hair styling shop in his home to service the locals. He styled and cut hair for everyone from executives to friends; his best customer even traded fresh trout from the Current River for a trim. Another aspect of Paul’s life was politics. He assisted his sister Winnie Weber in her campaigns for State Representative positions and was inspired by his father’s interest in public welfare. Paul later became the Mayor of Eminence and held the position until his passing. He was very proud to have this job as Mayor of Eminence, MO because he had followed in his father’s footsteps. With Paul as Mayor of Eminence, the roads have been resurfaced, trees were replanted to replace those destroyed in recent storms and he worked with local businesses to enhance craft shows and tourism. In addition to his mayoral position, Paul also collected and sold antiques. He assisted the city of St. Louis in establishing a section of Cherokee Street as an antique market. As a play director he treated the citizens of Shannon County to producing stage play performances. The locals could learn acting and stage handling. Along the same lines he led groups in developing writing skills, poetry, drama, fiction and the short stories were produced. His final production was an Evening with Mark Twain monologue performed 01-23-09. He looked the part and played the part to the tee. The audiences were spell bound. Winnie Weber Winnie Weber - Legacy Memorial Website I created and maintain this site in honor of my aunt. My Aunt Winnie was a strong, vibrant, independent woman. I have always been proud of her for being such a strong independent woman making her way in this man driven world all the way to be a MO state representative. She was chairwoman of the House higher education committee and proud of her work to promote what now is Truman State University in Kirksville. A former teacher, Ms. Weber was a state representative from Jefferson County for a total of 16 years in the 1970s and '80s. She graduated from Southwest Missouri State and earned a master's at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She won, and won re-election two years later. In 1974, she ran for the state Senate and lost in the Democratic primary. She regained her House seat in 1976 and held it until 1988. She returned to Eminence to open Winfield's, a bar, restaurant, store and her home, built from a rehabbed antique drugstore. Weber bought the drugstore and an adjoining building in October 1998, when it was destined to draw dust. A St. Louis architectural antique dealer, Lloyd Goode, has supervised most of the restoration since, and limited fountain and diner service began in April 1999. Winfield's made the transition from a grill menu to full-service restaurant with an evolving retail mix, including novelties, local crafts and apparel. The fountain, after a public contest, has been dubbed Winnie's Hyde-A-Way, and celebrates her political years with larger-than-life posters of her and former President Lyndon B. Johnson and Vice President Hubert Humphrey, among others. A banquet room, with dual fireplaces, is available upstairs. |
