Homer Eugene Pruden, 87, Adrian, MO, died Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2009 at the Atkinson Chapel in Adrian. Burial will be in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian. Friends may call from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Friday at the chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Adrian Library.

Gene was born February 25, 1922 in Arapahoe, Nebraska, the son of Homer Hughes and Leeta Fern (Hill) Pruden. From an early age he was known as Gene since his father's name was also Homer.

The Pruden family moved to Oberlin, Kansas when Gene was two years old. His only sibling, a brother, Ted Lee, was born in 1924. They lived in Kansas until the dust storms of the 1930's and then moved to Adrian MO in 1937. His dad was a barber in Adrian for years until his death, and his mother worked for Dr. Robinson and helped deliver many babies around the Adrian, Altona, and Ballard areas.

Gene graduated from Adrian High School in 1940. He joined the Army at Ft. Leavenworth that summer. From there he was transferred to Bermuda, and served in the quartermaster branch. In March of 1943, he came home on leave and married Betty Gene Davis of Holden MO at the Harrisonville courthouse on March 31. Gene then returned to Bermuda and stayed until the spring of 1944, when he was transferred to Ft. Francis E. Warren, Wyoming. His first child, Michael Eugene, was born at the fort on November 22, 1944. The other six children were all born in Butler MO. All six children graduated from Adrian High School. Gene had served on the Adrian School Board for 30 years.

In 1945, the war was over and the family returned to Missouri, and Gene looked for work. His uncle, Gaylord Hill, owned a truck line in Adrian and Gene worked for him, driving a truck. He later worked for the U.S. Post Office as a clerk and transferred to Rural Route 2 as a mail carrier. Gene carried the mail for 37 years. Many people remember him giving them candy on Saturdays when they were kids on the mail route.

In 1978, the family bought the Homestead House Restaurant on Main St. and built a new building across the street a few years later. Gene helped when he wasn't on the mail route and usually helped all the waitresses clean tables. We were very busy! In 1985, he retired from the mail route. They held a big party for him at the restaurant and the postal employees gave him a gold watch.

Gene and Betty bought a home in Bullhead City, Arizona and spent fourteen winters out there on the Colorado River. (It didn't hurt that the Laughlin Nevada casinos were right across the river!!) They had many friends and many visitors from home.

Gene and Betty lived in Adrian for a few years and then bought a farm east of Adrian. A few years later, they sold that farm and bought one west of Adrian and built a new home. They raised their family there and sold the farm in 1996 and moved back into Adrian when Gene could no longer handle the farm work. Gene enjoyed good health all of his life until he was diagnosed with cancer last fall.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, an infant daughter, Patricia Elizabeth, one son, Michael and a daughter, Susan. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty, of the home; his daughter, Cindy Kendrick, son, Roger Pruden and his wife, Connie, son, Stephen Pruden and his wife, Darlene, all of Adrian and daughter, Christine and her husband, Chuck Twyman, Linn Creek MO. He is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will also be missed by many relatives and friends.