Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the American Legion Post 280 in Benton and of the Benton V.F.W.
He is survived by two sons, Jerry Hopson and wife, Georgia, of Centralia and Richard Hopson and wife, Rosa, of Roseville, Calif.; three granddaughters, Janet, Anna and Lisa; and one brother, Paul Hopson and wife, Dorothy, of Mill Shoals.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Adelle Hopson; a son, Thomas; a brother and two sisters.
MARTHA JOANN WAGGONER
Benton - Martha Joann Waggoner, 54, of Benton died at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at her home.
Private family services will be held. The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bulgarian Child Inc., 7522 Campbell Drive-Suite 113-172, Dallas, TX 75248.
Martha Joanna Waggoner was born June 28, 1949, in Benton, the daughter of Clyde and Stella (Burzynski) Stewart.
She was a schoolteacher at Thompsonville Grade School. She was a Southern Baptist.
Martha is survived by her mother, Stella Stewart; daughter, Brook Waggoner; and brothers and sisters, Bob Stewart of Royalton, Mary Mandrell of Benton, Bud Stewart of Benton, Beverly Seddon of St. Charles, Mo., Dick Stewart of Benton, Jack Dean Stewart of Benton and Danny Stewart of Benton.
LENA MAE DURHAM
Benton - Lena Mae Durham, 84, of Benton, died at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2004 at the Franklin Hospital in Benton.
She was born in Crowder, Mo. n May 1, 1919, the daughter of John and Jessie (Jefferies) Dillon. She married Charles E. Durham on April 22, 1939. He preceded her in death on June 11, 1996.
Mrs. Durham is survived by two sons: Charles L. Durham and wife, Nancy, of Metropolis and Larry Durham of Benton; one granddaughter, Stephanie Calvin and husband, Kevin, of Grand Chain; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one sister, Edith Clark.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 9, at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, with the Rev. Burton Wills officiating. There will be no visitation.
Those attending the service on Friday are requested to meet at the cemetery. The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WILLIAM EDWIN KEENEY
Royalton - William Edwin "Bill" Keen-ey, 83, of Royalton died at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004, at the Oak Grove Nursing Home in Carbondale.
Funeral services for Mr. Keeney will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at the Vantrease Funeral Home in Royalton, with Brother Ron Knox officiating. Burial will be at Blairsville Cemetery. Visiting hours are after 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home until the hour of the services.
Bill was born September 12, 1920, in Charles City, Iowa, to William Thomas and Helen (Hess) Keeney.
He married Frieda Elizabeth Fitzner on Sept. 14, 1940, in Wheaton. She survives in Royalton.
Other survivors include a daughter, Karen McBride and a granddaughter, Rachel Ann Sanders, both of Royalton; a sister and brother-in-law, Delores and Duane Ferguson of West Chicago; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents, a sister, Murial Dreibrodt, and a grandson, William Michael Keeney, preceded him in death.
Mr. Keeney was a charter member of the Geneva Road Baptist Church in Wheaton and had attended the Royalton First Baptist Church. He was graduate of the West Chicago Community High School and the Institute of Lettering and Design in Chicago.
Bill was a Navy veteran of World War II, where he served as a mechanic on a motor torpedo boat in Squadron 39. He was the former owner/operator of the Central 66 service station in Wheaton. He and Frieda moved to Royalton in October of 1989 after his retirement.