Utah Von Price

Mr. Utah Von Price, 91, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and former longtime resident of Gosnell, passed from this life Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

Von was born in Mt. View to James W. and Leo Jenkins Price and was a retired Technical Sgt. with the United States Marine Corp and Marine Recruiter in Cape Girardeau, a retired job training representative with the Missouri Department of Employment Security, and was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau.

Von was a WWII Veteran of the 36-day battle of Iwo Jima and was a machine gun crewman with the Fifth Marine Division in February of 1945. The assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. He served in the Korean War as a landing craft driver with the First Marine Division at the battle of Inchon on September 15, 1950. This daring amphibious operation was conceived by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and turned the war.

Von was preceded in death by his parents, James and Leo Price; and by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lynn Price.

He is survived by his son, Robert "Bob" Price of Cape Girardeaui;

His daughter, Rita Price Cox of Phoenix, Ariz.;

Six grandchildren, Amy Wood, Christy Jimmerson, Robin (and Adrian) Tamas, Leslie Cox, Stephanie (and Eric) Knight, and Richard Swartwood;

Five great-grandchildren, Erin Wood, James Wood, Stephen Tamas, Collin Tamas and Steven Knight;

His brothers James (and Joyce) C. Price of Greenbriar and Max (and Erlene) Price of Martin, Tenn.;

His sisters, Dorothy Kinkead of Blytheville, Betty Sims of Tampa, Fla., and Barbara Jean Chambers of Phoenix, Ariz.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, 2014, in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon until service time, also at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.cobbfuneralhome.com