Graveside services for Fontella Lancaster, 83, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Lancaster passed away at 12:36 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016 at her home.

She was born April 13, 1933, at St. Joseph, Missouri, to Dewey Lunchford Russell and Birdie Smith Russell.  She was married September 21, 1949, to Rudolph Hambelton and to their union six children were born.  On February 26, 1977, she was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Merle Dean Lancaster, who preceded her in death on November 5, 1986.  She enjoyed quilting, embroidery and fishing.  Mrs. Lancaster was baptized at the age of seventeen into the Church of Christ at Dora, Missouri.  On September 12, 1982, she was baptized at the Southern Hills Baptist Church, West Plains, Missouri, by Pastor Thomas Farrier.

She is survived by five children, Broya Hambelton and wife, Diana, Shirley Jo Hicks, Victor Hambelton and wife, Anna, Fontella Cates and Terry Lee Hambelton; thirteen grandchildren; thirty-six great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lillian Gunter and Wilma Hall; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband, the father of her children, Rudolph Hambelton, one daughter, Wanda Sue Hensley, one grandson, Eric Hambelton, one great-grandson, Christopher Boyd and three brothers, Guy Russell, Glenn Russell and Don Ray Russell, precede her in death.

Mrs. Lancaster will lie in state from 4:00 until 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.