Byron Foster Estes Jr.

Byron Foster Estes Jr., 89, of North Vernon, passed away at 10:42 a.m. on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at Seymour Place in Seymour.

Born January 29, 1931, in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was the son of the late Byron Foster Estes Sr. and Edna (Morrison) Estes Dickson. He married Ruth L. Engle on April 25, 1954; she preceded him on death on May 5, 1995.

Byron graduated from Hayden High School in 1949 and went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 until 1953. He worked at Arvin’s for 28 years and for Cummins Engine Company for 10 years before his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the American Legion Post 89 in Seymour, the Smith and Wesson Gun Collectors Association, and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. Byron was the National Champion for Muzzle Load Trap Shooting in 1967, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trap shooting.

He is survived by his sons, Mark (Lana) Estes of North Vernon, Chris Estes of Vernon, and Tony (Jamie) Estes of Mt. Gilead, North Carolina; grandchildren, Andra Baker of Madison, Erin Estes and Kristin Estes, both of Scipio, Alyssa Gill of Commiskey, Page Magner of North Manchester, Justin (Chelsea) Estes of Vernon, Cassidy (Brandon) Rodgers of Charlottesville, North Carolina, and Luke Estes of Mt. Gilead, North Carolina; and ten great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service for Byron will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in North Vernon. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday, January 30, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Sunday. Burial will be in the Hayden Cemetery with VFW military rites by Matt Hester VFW Post #2021.

Memorials may be made in Byron’s honor through the funeral home to Schneck Hospice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Byron Foster Estes Jr., please visit our floral store.