Wayne A. Messmore, 93, of rural North Manchester, died at 5:40 a.m. March 10, 2008, in his residence.
He was born Aug. 5, 1914, in North Manchester, to George and Ethel Besse Messmore. On Aug. 21, 1947, in North Manchester, he married Earline Parker, who died June 22, 1989.
He lived in and around Huntington and North Manchester for more than 65 years. He served as the regional manager for Franklin Life Insurance Co. for 38 years. He was elected the first president of the Huntington Chapter of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, helped to institute the Huntington "Heritage Days" celebration, served as fundraising co-chair of the original Huntington Red Cross and Salvation Army and helped to establish the Huntington Airport. He also was instrumental in organizing JAYCEES chapters in Wabash, Muncie, Elkhart, Logansport and Plymouth. He served as Indiana state expansion chairman for the JAYCEES, increasing their chapter base from 27 to 57 over a one-year period. In 1947, he served on the National Board of Directors of the American Red Cross. He continued to work until his death as an estate business planner and as a personal evangelist.
Surviving are two sons, Karl L. Messmore, Indianapolis, and Kenton W. Messmore, North Manchester; two daughters, Kathleen M.M. (and spouse Geraldo) Coelho, Salvado, Behia, Brazil, and Karen E. Butler, Fishers; two brothers, Glenn (and spouse Eva) Messmore, North Webster, and Gene Messmore, Warsaw; a sister, Marie Trump, Pierceton; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, a sister and a grandson.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Congregational Christian Church, with Pastors J.P. Freeman and Edward Akins officiating. A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Pilgrim Rest Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Grandstaff-Hentgen, Bender Chapel, North Manchester.
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Memorials to Wabash-Miami Co. Home Healthcare & Hospice.
