Wesley Gene Eads, of Ashland, formerly of Vienna, was born on September 1, 1931, at Dixon, a son of Benjamin "Bennie" Perry and Minnie Bernadine (Ihler) Eads, and departed this life at 1:31 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2014, in the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia. Mr. Eads had attained the age of 82 years, 9 months, and 26 days.

Mr. Eads was united in marriage on July 15, 1961, at Vienna, to Dorothy Jeanette Wanda Green. He was preceded in death by his father on December 2, 1993; his mother on January 31, 1994; one granddaughter, Whitney Michelle Bentlage on October 13, 2007; and three brothers, Benjamin Paul Eads on May 7, 1981, John Arthur "Snoozer" Buelterman on November 11, 1993, and Levi Glennon "Glen" Eads on December 18, 2010.

Mr. Eads had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior and followed him in baptism early in life and at the time of his passing was a member of the Nashville Baptist Church, Ashland.

Mr. Eads was a United States Navy veteran, having served during the Korean Conflict, while serving in the Navy he was a boxer, and later worked as an Operating Engineer for the Missouri Department of Corrections, Jefferson City for 25 years, retiring in 2001. He was a member of the Lions Club of Columbia and the National Rifle Association.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Eads include: the mother of his children, Dorothy J. Eads, Holts Summit; one son and daughter-in-law, John Perry and Melinda Eads, Freeman; five daughters and one son-in-law, Rhonda Diane and Rick Turner, Ashland; Wanda Marie Devall, Bonne Terre; Mona Lea James, Ashland; Kimberly Sue Bentlage, Holts Summit; and Shelly Ann Cole and companion, Kevin Hoefelman, Ashland; three sisters, Dorothy Gant, Wilma Helton and Sue Gant, all of Vienna; nineteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Mr. Eads at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2014, in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with Rev. Charles Norris, Harvest Time Ministries, Holts Summit officiating.

Interment with full military honors was in the Vienna Public Cemetery under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Pallbearers for Mr. Eads were Cody James, Jacob Cole, Christopher LaBore, Jeffrey Eads, Kevin Dooley and Jerry LaBore. Honorary Pallbearers were Rick Turner, Mike James, Kevin Hoefelman and Cody Hoefelman.

Memorials are suggested per the wishes of the family with envelopes available at the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home.