FAIRMOUNT – Chester "Chet" Ratliff Booth, 97, of Leesburg, and Fort Myers Beach, Fla., died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, at his Fort Myers residence.
Chester was born in Carlisle, Ky., on April 2, 1923, to William Elizia Booth and Lelia Swingo Shrout Booth. He attended Marion schools and Indiana Business School.
Chester was a Navy Sea Bee, building military bases in the Pacific during WWII from 1942-1943. He was able to participate in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., and was a life member of the Fairmount American Legion.
Chester was a hard worker and worked more than one job most of his working years. He worked for A&P Grocery as a meat cutter and was co-owner of a meat locker called Rigdon Industries. He owned and operated his own construction company, "Little Construction," building many homes. In his spare time, he enjoyed making stained-glass and building furniture. Oak was his favorite wood to work with, which he did into his early 90s. He enjoyed playing euchre and attended Beach Baptist Church while wintering in Fort Myers Beach.
Chet is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Helen L. Titus Booth. Also surviving are two children: James (Nancy) Booth, Oregon, Wis.; and Janet (Ted) Titus, Leesburg; four grandchildren: James Titus, Mesa, Ariz.; Bradley (Gina) Titus, Terre Haute; Adam (Joanna) Booth, Nashotah, Wis.; and Elizabeth Booth, Madison, Wis.; five great-grandchildren: Whitney Titus, Trent Crowder, Nora Booth, Audrey Booth, Evelyn Booth and Jay Fortner.
Chet was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William R., Andrew F., Emmet Lee and Marion "Tussy" Booth; and sister, Marjorie Sigafoos.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Fairmount Chapel of Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 415 S. Main St., Fairmount, where visitation will be on Monday, Oct. 26 from noon to 2 p.m., with the funeral service at 2 p.m. with military rites and Linda Cabe officiating. Burial will follow at Knox Chapel Cemetery in Fairmount.
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Memorial contributions may be made to the Titus Justus Scholarship Fund/Community Foundation in care of the funeral home.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com.
