Kenneth Calvin Bybee

Kenneth Calvin Bybee, 81, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the Golden Living Center-New Haven in Odessa. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 21, 2013 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. Second St., Odessa, MO, 64076, (816) 633-5524 with Reverend Terry Hodges Officiating. Visitation will be held 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, 2012. Burial will be in the Odessa City Cemetery. Memorial are suggested to the First Baptist Church of Odessa Building Fund. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com. Kenneth was born on November 3, 1931 in Odessa, MO to Bluford Nelson and Amanda (Foster) Bybee. He attended Starr Rural School southeast of Odessa. He married Erma Jean Schmidt on June 16, 1956, in Odessa, with the Reverend Thomas Dyer officiating. He was employed with the Missouri Department of Transportation for 37 years until his retirement in 1987. Kenneth was a loving husband, father and grandfather. In addition to his wife he is survived by a daughter Debbie Phillips and husband Hap of Odessa; a grandson Reed Phillips and wife Gretchen of Sikeston, MO; a sister Mabel Spencer and husband Charles of Odessa; four sister-in-laws, Minnie Schmidt of Odessa, MO, Bernice Gann and husband Frederick of Odessa, MO, Nancy Flynn of Odessa, MO and Betty Forbes of Lexington, MO; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by seven brothers, Oliver James, Leo, George Otto, Bluford Eugene, Charles Lloyd, James Wesley and Robert Ray Bybee; and five sisters, Della May Roberts, Alva Lunsford, Edna Eva Malcom, Eva Wannetta Underwood and Cleo Bybee.