Mr. Floyd Lurton Sater, 98, of Middletown, died at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, August 21, 2010, at Burlington Care Center.

Born November 9, 1911 in Burlington, he was the son of Lurton Henry and Clara Luella Sellers Sater.

Mr. Sater was a farmer all his life, farming west of Middletown. When he started school, he walked the mile into Middletown and back each day. He was able to complete eight years of schooling in six and a half years so at the age of 12, he and four other boys in his class attended high school in Burlington. They chose Burlington, as the road was paved, whereas the road to Danville was then still a dirt road. For his second year of high school, Floyd would rise at a very early hour, bring in the firewood for his two grandmothers who lived in Middletown and then catch the “work train” at 6:30 a.m. arriving at the Burlington Depot at 7:00. From there, Floyd would take the trolley up to Burlington High School. For his senior year Floyd lived at the home of Miss Lloyd, the high school cafeteria manager, returning home to Middletown on the weekends.
Floyd graduated from Burlington High School in 1928 at age 16, and graduated from Burlington Junior College in 1932. He also played baseball in his younger years.

During the Depression years, Floyd and a friend butchered and packaged 50-60 hogs. They delivered the packaged meat all over Burlington for 4 ½ cents a pound. Floyd had started farming with 14 horses, but eventually bought a tractor. He was a member of Des Moines County Farm Bureau and had fond memories of the monthly meetings being held in the homes of farmers during the 1920s and 30s. Floyd looked forward to these meetings as opportunities to learn and to socialize.

Floyd was the oldest resident of Middletown and the oldest, and a lifelong member, of Middletown Presbyterian Church. He was a former member of Rural Youth and Presbyterian Mariners and was also a 50+ year member of Danville Masonic Lodge #48 AF & AM. He served as Town Clerk of Middletown for 16 years where he was paid $2.00 per meeting 13 times per year.

Floyd was very good at Mathematics. He enjoyed gatherings with his family and friends, especially meals at his sister, Doris’ house, church socials and suppers, auctions, animals, attending Cattle Congress, Iowa and Illinois State Fairs, Farm Progress shows, farmers’ market, Pigeon Club and visits to St. Louis, Cleveland, Long Island,Texas, and Florida to see family,

Survivors include one sister, Doris M. Ellerhoff of Middletown; two nieces, Elyce (Ellerhoff-Villinger) Riney of Middletown and Becky (Ellerhoff-Krasuski) Davis of Burlington; one nephew, Ronald (Lorene) Ellerhoff of Middletown; four great nieces; three great nephews; seven great-great nieces; five great-great nephews; and a cousin, Maxine Allen of Mt. Pleasant.

He was preceded in death by his parents; baby sister, Dorothy Mae Sater; infant brother, Kenneth Wilbur Sater; and brother, Wayne Russell Sater, who had been his caregiver for 5 years.

Masonic Rites will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. Friday, August 27th, in Lunning Chapel. Following the rites, the family will receive friends until 8:30 p.m.

The funeral service for Mr. Sater will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 28th, in Middletown Presbyterian Church. Pastor Dan Buck will officiate. Interment will be in Middletown Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for Shriners Hospital for Children.