FERRIDAY — Services for Dr. Claude Howard Current, 96, of Ferriday, who died Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at his residence, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Ferriday with the Rev. Clyde Ray Webber officiating.

Burial will follow at Woodlawn Mausoleum under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the church.

Dr. Current was born Aug. 31, 1914, in the community of Jimtown in Schuyler County, Mo., the son of William Warder Current and Sarah Isabell Current. He attended Jimtown Consolidated School and graduated from Glenwood High School in Glenwood, Mo. He received a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Missouri and received the doctor of optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn.

Dr. Current was one of the founders of Louisiana Central Bank, now Delta Bank, where he served on the board of directors until his retirement and he was one of the founders of Ferriday Finance Company and served as its president for 30 years.

He was a past member of Rotary Club and was one of the founders of Ferriday Kiwanis Club, Louisiana Optometric Association and president of Louisiana Board of Optometry Examiners. Dr. Current was a 50-year member of Ferriday Masonic Lodge and a Shriner. He served on the Board of Deacons and Elders of the Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and was treasurer for 10 years.

Before his military service in the U.S. Army during World War II, he taught vocational agriculture in Waynesville, Mo. He was inducted as a private on June 6, 1941, and commissioned as an officer in July 1943. He served overseas with Ordnance Automotive Maintenance Company and was company commander, at that time, in Australia and New Guenia. He also served ordnance at Camp Pacific in New Orleans. He was discharged as a captain in May of 1946.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Letha O. Lile and Helen West; and three brothers, Elner Current, Elza Current and Herman Current.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Hazel Current; three daughters, Marlyn Crump and husband, Ed, Peggy Turnbough and husband, Bill, and Cindy Cole and husband, Roy; seven granddaughters, Andee Blauser and husband, Jeff, Rachel Turnbough, Mindy McCelvey and husband, David, Currie Custer and husband, Kelly, Tullie Solieau and husband, David, Rebecca Ostrow and husband, Mike, and Carolyn Mandajam and husband, Suraj; 14 great-grandchildren, Bert Gerhardt, Meg Gerhardt, Rachel Ann Gerhardt, Katie Maude Gerhardt, Winn Custer, Mac Custer, Susie Solieau, Will McCelvey, Matt McCelvey, George McCelvey, Abbie Blauser, Cooper Blauser, Rachel Ostrow and Rohan Mandajam; one niece, Lola Mae Anderson; and three nephews, David Current, Jerry West and Edward West.

Pallbearers will be Tom Miliken, Ronnie Bradford, Andy Anders, Terry Corbet, Randy Miller and John Rife.

Honorary pallbearers will be Reggie Poole, Red Robertson, Joe Sechiele and all elder members of First Presbyterian Church of Ferriday.

Special thanks to Dr. Huey Moak, Mrs. Janice Caesor, Mrs. Loretta Cotton, Mrs. Annette Campbell and Mrs. Elaine White.

Online condolences may be sent to www.youngsfh.com.