Hershell F. Webster, 84, died Dec. 26, 2003, after a long illness.

He was born Aug. 20, 1919, in Laura, Okla. He was a career soldier and veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He retired from the Army in 1961 as a chief warrant officer. His last duty assignment was as the missile officer for the Nike base on Vashon Island. After retiring from the Army, he began working on the Minuteman missile program for Boeing, and was transferred to Layton, Utah. He later accepted a civil service position to run one of two electronic quality control centers in the country. After he retired from the civil service, he moved to Idabel, Okla., where he taught electronics at the vocational institute. Mr. Webster later moved to Washington to be closer to his youngest son, who lives on Whidbey Island.

He was an avid fisherman and hunter and loved to be outdoors, especially with the Brittany spaniels that he raised and trained.

He is survived by Nan, his wife of 61 years; two sons, Ed and Dennis; eight grandchildren, Brent, Todd, Chad, Heidi, Heather, Stacy, Josh and Jessica; and five great-grandchildren, Cale, Camden, Nolan, Nicholas and Leonidas.

He was buried Dec. 31 at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, with full military honors.

Arrangements were by Visser Funeral Home, Langley.