James Wattenbarger, an 85-year-old Trenton resident, died at 12:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011 at Liberty Hospital in Liberty.
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Memorial services are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 at Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home in Trenton. Inurnment at Sharon Chapel will be at a later date.
Mr. Wattenbarger was born on March 28, 1926 in Savannah, the son James C. and Martha E. Wooderson Wattenbarger. They lived in Kansas City before moving to Trenton. He graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City and then served in the United States Marine Corps from 1943 until 1949. After his military service, he joined the U. S. Border Patrol for three years at El Paso, TX and then was with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. In 1955 he was employed by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and he received his bachelor of science degree in police science from Cal State University of Los Angeles. In 1978 he retired from the sheriff’s department and returned to Trenton.
He has been a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church as well as the Joseph L. Norton VFW Post 919, Trenton Lions Club and the 6th Marine Division Association.
Surviving relatives include his son, Erick James Wattenbarger and three grandchildren, Erin, Isac and Nickolas Wattenbarger, all of Trenton, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Carolyn Wattenbarger and Mary Portman.
Memorial donations are suggested to either the VFW or the Lions Club. They may be left at or mailed to the Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home at 813 Custer St., Trenton, MO 64683.
Online condolences may be left at whitakereads.com