Obituary of Homer C. Andrews

Mr. Homer C. Andrews, a resident of Ozark, passed away Thursday, February 9, 2023. He was 98 years old. Funeral services for Mr. Andrews will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, February 12, 2023, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Dr. Dennis Tew officiating. Interment will follow in Southside Baptist Church Cemetery with Military Honors, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until service time. Mr. Andrews was born September 21, 1924 in Ozark, Alabama to the late Ray and Winnie Peacock Andrews. Homer was drafted into World War II on February 23, 1943. After training he arrived in the European Theater on February 6, 1944. His occupation specialty was Seaman 065, Grade T5. Homer served in Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe and Rhineland. He was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. Homer and Kathleen began building their three-bedroom house from unsold lumber he purchased from the sawmill each night where he worked. They had gardens, cows, a well, pigs and all that went with the life of young Alabama couples. Soon their house had grown and so had the family. Daughters, June in 1948 and then Mavis in 1950, rounded out this family. Both daughters were born right in the little house. Homer could point to the very spot where they came into the world. Homer worked at Fort Rucker as a welder until 1959 when he went into business for himself. He built a shop with a dirt floor and worked on anything he could repair. Before long, a radiator and welding business began and a small earth moving business was added. He was successful and well respected in the Dale County area – considered to be one, if not the best, welder in the entire area. Homer was the oldest living founding member of Southside Baptist Church in Ozark. He was born on the very spot where the church now sits. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Beasley Andrews. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, June and James O’Steen of Montgomery, Alabama and Mavis and Philip Wolfe of Richmond Hill, Georgia; seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. The family would like to offer special thanks to Ellie Witt for the love and care she provided to Mr. Andrews while he was at home. She could always be counted on to take are of him. Also special thanks to Jimmy Owens for the special bond he had with Mr. Andrews and the unselfish love he showed him.