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Orval Hyde
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No public services were held for Orval Hyde, 88, of Ceres. He died at home on Sunday, March 22, 2009.

Born Feb 10, 1921 in Albia, Iowa to Arthur and Fanny Adella Hyde, Orval moved to Bayfield, Wisc., in 1931. They purchased 80 acres where they cleared the wooded land, built a log cabin and raised strawberries, raspberries and beans. Mr. Hyde was drafted into World War II, in 1942 and attained the rank of Rifleman NCO staff sergeant, leading a squad in an infantry company in France and Germany controlling and coordinating squads of riflemen. He received a Purple Heart after having his belt clip shot off by a bullet and then being hit by mortar shrapnel at Normandy June 8, 1942. On Nov. 27, 1944 he was listed as "missing in action," having been captured by the Germans and held as a POW for 13 months at Stalag 4B. He was freed along with his fellow prisoners when the Germans fled in front of the advancing Russians.

Upon his return home he married Jean Cox on May 12, 1947 in Washburn, Wisc., and made Bayfield, Wisc., their first home. He later lived in Escondido in 1955, and in Anaheim and Fullerton. Mr. Hyde worked as a custodian at an area hospital and at Fullerton Adventist Elementary School. In 1965 he moved to Modesto, taking a job as a school bus and custodian for Modesto Union Elementary School until his retirement in 1986.

He leaves behind his wife Jean Hyde of Ceres; his children, Beverly Cox of Hornbrook, Audrey Graham of Ceres, Dale Hyde of Enumclaw, Wash., and Keith Hyde of Lacey, Wash.; his sister, Pearl Woodhull of Poplar, Wisc.; and three step-grandchildren, Jake Stevens of Modesto, Sherry Marconi of Apple Valley, and Matthew Graham of Modesto. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Mertell Hyde, Leon Raymond Hyde, Ivan Edward Hyde, and Everett Arthur, and sisters Estella Leona, Edith Lavon, Evelyn Wanette and Phyllis Lavelle.

Remembrances may be sent to Community Hospice Inc., 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356; or to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718; or KADV 90.5 FM, 2031 Academy Place, Ceres, CA 95307; or Central Valley Christian Academy Educational Fund, 2020 Academy Place, Ceres CA 95307.

-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /April 1, 2009