U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Genevieve Gognat
ST. FRANCISVILLE — Genevieve M. Gognat, 66, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, in Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind., of an aneurysm.
She retired as the principal of Unit 20 at the Christian Academy and was a member of the Retired Teachers’ Association and the Arizona State University Alumni Association.
She was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Altar Society, Women’s Club and on the parish council.
Surviving are a brother, Julius Gognat of rural St. Francisville; and nieces and a nephew.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, with burial in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today, with a rosary at 8 p.m., at the church. Cunningham Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Academy in St. Francisville.
Dr. C.L. Johns
MOUNT CARMEL — Dr. C.L. Johns, 94, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000, at Wabash General Hospital.
He retired in 1986 after 50 years of medical practice, 48 years in Mount Carmel. He had a practice in Bluffs, Ill., from 1936 to 1939 and from 1939 to 1942 held a position in advanced education with the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
He was a 1928 graduate of the University of North Dakota, did his internship at the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in Chicago and received his master’s degree from the University of Michigan.
He was a World War II Army Air Force Veteran, serving in the Medical Corps as a captain, and participated in the invasion of Normandy. He attended the Nuremberg Trials and served the city of Pilzen in Czechoslovakia as a public health officer.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks and Alpha-Tau Omega. He was a Methodist.
Surviving are his wife, Nicole (Dryer); a daughter, Christine Mitchell of Spokane, Wash.; a son, Patrick of Metarie, La.; and three grandchildren, Lucas and Matthew Johns and Anne-Claire Mitchell.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Short Funeral Home, with burial in Highland Memorial cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Rev. L.B. Howard
CALHOUN — The Rev. L.B. Howard, 85, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.
He served as a Methodist minister in Johnsonville, Omaha, New Haven, Mount Erie Seeds Chapel, Falmouth, Iuka, Calhoun, Ellis Grove, Brown, Phillipstown and Simpson.
Surviving are his wife, Eather Mae (Long); five daughters, Joan Leggett of Oblong, Berdena McKinney of Mount Erie, Donna Earnest of Florissant, Mo., Kathy Michels of Olney and Karen Sue Howard of Illinois; two sons, Marvin B. of Mount Erie and Keith of West Frankfort; a sister, Florene Sanders of Richmond, Ky.; 21 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Olney, with burial in Macedonia cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Summers-Kistler Funeral Home in Olney.
Memorial contributions may be made to United Methodist Preacher’s Aid Society.
Richard Rumsey
HARRISBURG — Richard W. “Woody” Rumsey, 83, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, at Fountainview Nursing Home in Eldorado.
He retired as a repairman for the Harrisburg sewer department and had worked for the Rumsey & Wilson Standard Service Station.
He was a World War II Army veteran, serving as a corporal with the 569th Signal Corps in the Central Europe and Rhineland theaters and participated the Battle of the Bulge.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 167.
Surviving are his wife, Irene (Lewis); a daughter, Vinita Riley of Harrisburg; a sister, Fern Threlkeld of Jerseyville; and two grandchildren, Boston and Carson Riley.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Sunset Garden cemetery.
Friends may call from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at Reed Funeral Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurse Association.
Crystal Champion
CARMI — Crystal A. Champion, 76, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2000, at St. Mary’s Health Care Services/Welborn Campus of cancer.
She was a dietary aide at the Wabash Christian Retirement Center and attended the Carmi Church of God.
Surviving are two daughters, Pam and Sharon Champion, both of Carmi; three sons, Steve and Eric, both of Carmi and Michael of Springerton; four sisters, Rosie White of Golden, Miss., Edwina Washburn of Morehouse, Mo., Pat Parks of Morley, Mo., and Opal Rash of Wilson, Ark.; and seven grandchildren, Curtis, Jessica, Rachail, Cara, Cris, Jan and Andy. Her husband, John, died in 1999.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Campbell Funeral Home, with burial in North Maple Ridge cemetery.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Gilbert Harms
BONE GAP — Gilbert L. Harms, 88, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2000, at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.
He was a farmer, member of the Farm Bureau and past director of the Wabash Valley Service Co.
He was a member of the Bone Gap United Methodist Church.
Surviving are two sons, Don and David, both of Bone Gap; five grandchildren, Eric and Meghan Harms, Michelle Thomason, Brooke Byars and Melissa Brock-Jones; and eight great-grandchildren. His wife, Iva E. (Hocking), died in 1980.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Ingram Funeral Home in Albion, with burial in Bone Gap cemetery.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Farm Bureau Foundation.
Wanda Lawrence
BRIDGEPORT — Wanda L. Lawrence, 68, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2000, at her home of cancer.
Surviving are three daughters, Audrey Cook of Vincennes, Ind., and Gloria Erickson and Kathy Rennebu, both of Bridgeport; a son, Walter W. of Linton; Ind.; three sisters, Sue Ringinger of Texas, Doris Harris of Big Springs, Texas, and Katherine Kelly of Iowa; a brother, Sonny Dement of Dubuque, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Her husband, Walter L., died in 1996.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in White House cemetery.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to service time at Cunningham Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Lincoln Trail Hospice.
Annabelle Roy
NORRIS CITY — Annabelle Roy, 97, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado.
She was a sales clerk at Ebert Edwards and at a dime store and had worked as a domestic housekeeper for Norris City.
Surviving are a sister, Gladys Hafford of Norris City; a grandson, Danny Lamp; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Radcliffe, in 1949 and a daughter, Willena Lamp in 1989.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Campbell Funeral Home, with burial in Odd Fellows cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Charles Rich
ROBINSON — Charles R. “Mort” Rich, 74, of Newton, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, at Richland County Memorial Hospital in Olney of an apparent heart attack.
He retired in 1984 as the director of personnel after 31 years with the L.S. Heath Candy Co. and he had served on the Robinson City Council and the Crawford Memorial Hospital Board.
He was a World War II Army veteran, serving in Europe.
He was a member of the Central Christian Church in Newton, Robinson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4549 and Elks 1188.
Surviving are his wife, Ruby (Moorehead); a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Atkinson of Newton; two sons, Gregory of rural Oblong and Michael D. of Robinson; four sisters, Christine and Pauline Rich, both of Robinson, Emma Jean Inboden of New Hebron and Maxine McGovern of St. Louis; four grandchildren, Sarah, Christen and Kelly Jo Kitts and James Douglas Rich; three stepgrandchildren; a great-grandson; and nieces and nephews.
His first wife, Betty (Hummel), died in 1995.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Goodwine Funeral Home, with burial in Robinson New cemetery, with military rites.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to service time at the funeral home.
George Morris
McLEANSBORO — George Wesley Morris, 79, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital.
He worked at the Illinois Power Co. in Eldorado as a lineman and serviceman for 38 years.
During World War II, he was stationed in Townsville, Australia, in the military police.
He was a member of Elks, Local 702 and former member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Surviving are his wife, Jessie Pauline (Putney) Ackerman; a daughter, Melissa Ann Goss of Montgomery, Ala.; two sons, G. Ronald Sr. of Bay Shore, N.Y., and Thomas W. of Jackson, Mo.; two stepsons, Larry and Wayne Ackerman, both of Mount Carmel; a sister, Freda Davis of Collinsville; five grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.
His first wife, Doris Jean (Garrison), died in 1995.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Harre Funeral Home, with burial in Odd Fellows cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to service time at the funeral home.
Gladys Ratlift
BELL RIVE — Gladys Lorene Ratlift, 86, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, at Severens Nursing Home in Benton.
She was a member of Sugar Camp Baptist Church.
Surviving are two sons, Lester of Missouri and Larry of Justice; a sister, Ada Roberts of Mount Vernon; a brother, Curtis Neal of Ina; 14 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Silas R., in 1999 and two sons, Melvin and Silas Neal.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Gholson Funeral Home in Dahlgren, with burial in Odd Fellows cemetery.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
