RONALD A. SELVEY

April 19, 2017

BOLIVAR- Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar for Ronald A. Selvey, 87, Bolivar, who died peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, April 15, 2017, after a lengthy illness. Rev. Tom Rhodes will officiate. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Bolivar.

Pallbearers will be Brad Selvey, Bryan Beatty, Luke Beatty, Payton Wine, Josh Adams, Chris Falk, Jeremy Papenfuhs and Eric Wilson.

Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m., at the funeral home, located at 407 E. Broadway St., Bolivar.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Zion Lutheran Church, PO Box 5, Bolivar, MO 65613; American Red Cross, 1545 N. West Bypass, Springfield, MO 65803 or Bolivar City Golf Course, 1506 W. Broadway, Bolivar, MO 65613.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; children, Rhonda Penn and husband Dale, Springfield, Roger Selvey and wife Bobbie, Kimberling City, Peggy Beatty and husband Will, Bolivar and Cammie Wine and husband Bill, Bolivar; 11 grandchildren, Dayla Penn, Sarah Travaglio and husband Gaetano, Chelsea Penn, Brad Selvey and wife Sumar, Beth Adams and husband Josh, Hanna Falk and husband Chris, Bryan Beatty and wife Danielle, Luke Beatty, Lyndsay Papenfuhs and husband Jeremy, Abby Wine and Payton Wine; 11-great-grandchildren, Giovanni and Viviana Travaglio, Cooper and Brayden Adams, Parker and Kinsley Falk, Beau and Boone Beatty, Lexi, Ally and Maci Papenfuhs and one to be born in June, Carlee Adams; three brothers, Keith Selvey, Kerrville, Texas and Don Selvey and wife Thelma and Carl Selvey and wife Beverly, Lamar; a sister, Louise Caruthers, Lamar and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Martin, Gene, Bob and Leland Gail Selvey; two sisters, Helen Carr and Lorene Norwood and a baby daughter, Polly.

Mr. Selvey was born Dec. 11, 1929, in Lamar, to Roy and Essie (McManis) Selvey. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1947 and served eight years in the Army Reserve. In 1953 he and his identical twin, Don, were appointed to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He was stationed in Neosho, Anderson and Bolivar, earning the rank of Sergeant before retiring in 1989. He married Donna Holtzen on Aug. 30, 1953.

When he and his wife and family moved to Bolivar in 1973, they found there was no Lutheran church, so they offered their home for weekly services to the newly-formed congregation. As a charter member, he volunteered his time as president and various offices, as well as serving on the building committee for the present-day Zion Lutheran Church.

As an active community member, he was in Anderson Lions' Club, Bolivar Kiwanis, Bolivar City Golf Course and Silo Ridge Country Club. He was a member of the Missouri Peace Officers Association for 60 plus years. He donated more than 30 gallons of platelets to the American Red Cross over the years. After retiring, he volunteered to teach a senior citizens' safe-driving course. He enjoyed golf, coffee with his buddies, mowing and plowing gardens, but most of all, he loved fried chicken for Sunday dinner with his whole family.



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