Archie Ray Specker

July 5, 1933 - January 25, 2020

Archie Ray Specker, 86, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Holden Manor, in Holden, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2020 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd Street, Odessa, MO 64076, 816-633-5524. A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Memories of Archie and condolences for his family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFh.com or on our Facebook Page. Archie was born July 5, 1933 in Johnson County, MO to William Arthur and Effie Alice (Westerhold) Specker. He graduated from Odessa High School and then received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. Archie taught school for two years before enlisting in the United States Air Force. A Vietnam veteran, he received an honorable discharge after 20 years of flying B-52 airplanes and helicopters and 10 years in the Air Force Reserve. He received many medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Service Defense Medal with two bronze service star devices, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. He married Retha Christene “Chris” (Townsend) Specker on January 1, 1981 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Archie was a member of the Odessa Church of Christ and fraternity Alpha Gamma Sigma. In addition to spending time with family and friends, Archie enjoyed woodworking and antiquing. Survivors include Archie’s wife Chris Specker of Holden, MO; three children, Rodney Thomas and wife Cheryl of San Antonio, TX, Sarah Hagy and husband David of Houston, TX, and Patrick Stokes and wife Theresa of Beaumont, TX; 8 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Archie was preceded in death by five brothers, William, Everette, Aaron, Ora and Carl Lee Specker; and two sisters, Margaret Tye and Helen Adamson.