Joule “Keith” Chester, 88, of Holden, Missouri, died Sunday, Feb. 22, at Ridgecrest nursing home in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Ben Cast & Son – Wood Funeral Home in Holden.

Cremation will follow the visitation with a service at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri, with military honors at noon Tuesday, March 3.

He was born Dec. 28, 1926, in Kansas City, Missouri, a son of Beulah (Evens) Chester. In his younger years, the family lived in several locations throughout the United States before moving back to Kansas City where he attended school. In his senior year at Westport High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy in November 1944 and was trained as a aviation machinist and air crewman. At the end of World War II, he reenlisted in the United States Navy and spent four more years before being discharged as a second class aviation machinist mate. After leaving the Navy, Keith worked as a motorcycle mechanic at Harley Davidson dealerships and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. He joined TWA as a mechanic in 1956 and continued employment there until retirement in 1986.

Keith married Doris Marie Liggett on Feb. 10, 1951. After his retirement, Keith and Doris moved to a farm near Holden, Missouri. Keith was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the American Motorcycle Association, the Missouri Sport Shooting Association, and a life member of the National Rifle Association.

He leaves his wife, Doris Chester, of the home; two daughters, Marsha Morales, Independence, Missouri; and Rosemary Butler, Liberty, Missouri; 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Carol Marie Taylor.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Holden VFW.

Online tributes can be left at www.castfuneralhome.com.