Carl Lucas Byrum

Carl Lucas Byrum, 88, of Mt Pleasant and formerly of Mt. Union, died Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at Henry County Health Center. Mr. Byrum was born March 26, 1926 in Henry County, Iowa, the son of Lloyd Lucas and Nellie Black Byrum. His mother died when he was three years old and he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Milo and Frances DeLashmutt on a farm south of Mt. Union. He was a 1943 graduate of New London High School. On February 7, 1945 he married Betty Marshall in New Hampton, Virginia. She died May 11, 2010. In 1943 he enlisted in the US Navy. He served on the USS Barber in the European Theater in the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa and the North Atlantic Theater. He then served in the Pacific in the invasion of the Carolina Islands, Philippines, Guatel Canal, Okinawa, and Iwa Jima. Upon his return from the war he worked at the Iowa Army Ammunitions Plant for several years and farmed his entire life in the Oakland Mills and Mt. Union areas. He was co-owner of Mt. Pleasant Better Homes & Garden Real Estate Company. He served on the Henry County Soil Conservation Board for 20 years, the FmHA Advisory Board for USDA, and he served on the board and as treasurer for the...[more]

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nry County Extension. He was 4-H leader for Tippecanoe Topnotchers. He was a member of the Oakland Mills Rural School Board and was president of the PTA. He served on the board of Directors for Farm Bureau and was the County President. He was a master Swine Producer, served on the Swine Board at the Henry County Fair and was President of the Henry County Pork Producers. He was an Honorary Chapter Farmer for FFA. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Rotary, Farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees. In 2001 he was named Old Thresher of the year. In 1956, Mr. Byrum was awarded Outstanding Young Farmer of Iowa by the Jaycees. He was proud of being a Pioneer Seed Corn Grower for over 20 years and received Top Yield acknowledgement from Pioneer Seed Corn in 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2009. He also served on the Board of Directors of Mt. Pleasant Bank & Trust, Hawkeye Bank and Mercantile Bank. He enjoyed farming, raising hogs, growing Pioneer seed corn and wintering in Arizona with his wife. Mr. Byrum is survived by his daughter, Cherie Byrum of Mt. Union; son, Micheal (Carolyn) Byrum of Mt. Pleasant; six grandchildren, Shane Edgington, Christopher Edgington, Brandon Edgington, Jaron Byrum, Todd Byrum, and Heather Leichty; ten great-grandchildren, Patrick and Olivia Edgington, Miles and Madison Edgington, Zachery, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Jacob Byrum, Eric and Gabe Leichty; and great-great grandsons Gavyn and Parker. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his aunt and uncle who raised him, son Phillip, brother Miles, and sisters Lucille, Marjorie, Marian and Isabelle. Memorial services for Mr. Byrum will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Elliott Chapel, New London. Pastor David Mixon will officiate. The body has been cremated according to his wishes, and inurnment will be in Trinity Cemetery, rural Mt. Union, following the service. Military Rites will be presented by the Henry County Honor Guard. Visitation will begin after noon on Friday, June 27 at the Chapel with the family greeting friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New London VFW Post 7641, Mt. Pleasant VFW Post 2561, and the New London Nursing and Rehab Center.