U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Wood
DECATUR -- Gertrude Agnes Wood, 90, of Decatur died 7 p.m. Saturday (March 22, 2003) in Lincoln Manor Nursing Home.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in Graceland Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials: American Lung Association or Humane Society.
Gertrude was born Sept. 7, 1912, in Pacific Junction, Iowa, the daughter of David and Martha Stites Rathje. She was a homemaker and a member of Summit Avenue Baptist Church. She married Hubert Wood in 1948. He preceded her in death in 1993.
Surviving are her son, Clarence Wood and wife Sue of Decatur; grandchildren, Chris Wood and wife Crystal; Dana Allsup and husband John; great-grandchildren, Erica and Evan Allsup; nephew, David Rathje; niece, Tammy Bennett.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two brothers.
Boyd
BEASON -- Donald C. "Don" Boyd, 86, Beason, custodian for Beason Grade School, died Sunday (March 23, 2003).
Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln. Visitation: one hour before services. Burial: Harmony Cemetery, Beason. Memorials: donor's choice.
Dalton
ARTHUR -- Virginia H. Golden Dalton, 73, Arthur, formerly of Beecher City, homemaker, died Sunday (March 23, 2003).
Services: 1 p.m. Wednesday, United Methodist Church, Beecher City. Visitation: two hours before services in the church. Burial: Beecher City Cemetery. Arrangements by: Bauer Funeral Homes, Effingham. Memorials: American Cancer Society.
Member: United Methodist Church and Order of the Eastern Star, Beecher City. Survivors: husband, Glendal; sons, James E. Hopper, Wapakoneta, Ohio; John L. Hopper, Arthur; daughter, Lynda Devore, Beecher City; brother, James Golden, Effingham; sister, Mary M. Golden, Decatur; stepbrother, Bill White, Winchester; stepsister, Betty Macke, Kansas City, Mo.; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Preceded by: parents; first husband, Emory D. Hopper; and one great-granddaughter.
Delaney
CLINTON -- Nova A. Delaney, 96, Lecanto, Fla., formerly of Clinton, died Monday (March 24, 2003). Arrangements incomplete: Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton.
Dunlap
ROBINSON -- Roberta Case Dunlap, 63, Lake Station, Ind., formerly of Robinson, computer operator, died Saturday (March 22, 2003).
Graveside services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Hardinville Cemetery. Visitation: one hour before services, Pulliam Funeral Home, Robinson. Memorials: American Cancer Society.
Dowd
MOWEAQUA -- Vennard Sylvester Dowd, 66, of Moweaqua went home to be with the Lord who he loved and served at 10:09 a.m. Saturday (March 22, 2003) in St. Mary's Hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seitz Funeral Home, Moweaqua, with the Rev. Charles K. Jacobs officiating. Visitation will be 4 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Moweaqua. Memorials: Grace Baptist Church.
Vennard was born Oct. 20, 1936, in Moweaqua, the son of Bennard S. and Louise Morris Dowd. He was presently serving his second term as mayor of the village of Moweaqua, being elected in 1997. He formerly served on the village council since 1991. He was a charter member of Grace Baptist Church, where he served as deacon, church treasurer and Sunday school teacher. He retired in 1992 from Wagner Castings Co., where he was a shipping foreman for 37 years. He was an avid golfer and, as mayor, was overseeing the construction of the last nine holes of Moweaqua Golf Course, which will open this year. He was a great sports fan, especially proud to be a Central A&M Raiders fan. He married Helen Joan Largen on Jan. 5, 1958, in Hernando, Miss. She preceded him in death Dec. 19, 1979. They had four children: Tim, Brian, Keith and Beth. He married Norma Jordan Saddoris on July 3, 1981, in Assumption, and added to his family three children: Lisa, Kim and Todd.
Surviving are his children, Tim and wife Kathy of Moweaqua; Brian and wife Amy of Edwardsville; Keith and wife Delores of Fort Stewart, Ga.; Beth Snider and husband Jeff of Moweaqua; Lisa Wiseman and husband Jerry; Kim Hennings and husband Kevan; Todd Saddoris and wife Rayann of Decatur; mother of Moweaqua; grandchildren, Erika Dowd, Colin Dowd, Patrick Dowd, Hollie Fore, Chase Fore, Jennifer Dowd, Charles Dowd, Catrice Dowd, James Dowd, Rachel Dowd, Nicholas and Trenton Wiseman, Darin, Scott, Brice and Kaley Hennings and Jared, Drake and Justin Saddoris.
He was preceded in death by his father; wife, Helen; and sisters, Christine Tankersley and Esther Graven.
Most of all, he was a No. 1 husband, dad and grandpa and will be greatly missed.
Forbes
SHOBONIER -- Marjorie Marie Forbes, 62, Shobonier, homemaker, died Sunday (March 23, 2003).
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, Hohlt & File Funeral Home, Vandalia. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Burial: Fairlawn Cemetery, Vandalia.
Survivors: husband, James; son, Bryan Douglas Forbes, Montana; daughter, Theressa Lynn Holmes, Montana; brother, James Melvin Hall, Brownstown; sisters, Joyce Pagent, Minnesota; Jean Chapman, Estes Park, Colo.; Kathlene Eng, New York, N.Y.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Preceded by: parents, one son and one brother.
Long
LOVINGTON -- Sidney L. Long, 86, of Lovington passed away 3:35 p.m. Sunday (March 23, 2003).
Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in United Methodist Church, Lovington. Visitation will be 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Lovington. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery, Lovington, with military rites. Memorials: Lovington United Methodist Church or Lincolnland Hospice, Charleston.
Sidney was born Dec. 26, 1916, in Christian County, the son of S.E. and Maye B. Stevens Long. He was a World War II veteran of the 814th Combat military Police as staff sergeant. He served in the South Pacific, earning three bronze stars, Philippine Liberation Star and Ribbon, Asian Pacific Medal and seven overseas bars with a total of 43 months in combat. He was a retired farmer and softball and baseball umpire. He was a retired member of ASA and IHSA, member of the VFW and American Legion 429, both in Lovington, and a master gardener. He married Evelyn J. Foster on Oct. 29, 1947.
Surviving are his wife; sons, Sheldon M. Long and wife Melanie of Decatur; Chris S. Long and wife Sheryl of Sigel; daughter, Cathy J. Long and fiance Ron Lee of Knoxville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Carrie Long-Pierson; Blaine Long; Holly Long; Abbie, Baylie, Caleb and Demmie Long; great-grandchildren, Andrew Pierson and Sydney Long-Mendenall; brother, Lloyd Long of Lovington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
Rawlings
STRASBURG -- Olive Jean Rawlings, 87, of Strasburg died 3:45 a.m. Monday (March 24, 2003) in Moweaqua Living Center.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Lockart & Sons Funeral Home, Shelbyville, with visitation noon until services. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville. Memorials: donor's choice.
Mrs. Rawlings was born on Oct. 16, 1915, in Windsor, the daughter of C. Walter and Myrtle Gaston Jones. She was a lifetime member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church. She married Willis Rawlings on June 6, 1935. He preceded her in death April 5, 1988.
Surviving are her sisters, Opal Rodman and husband Wayne of Atlanta; Wanda Steele and husband Verl of Altamont; brother, Charles W. Jones and wife Carol of Lincoln; stepson, Wayne Dixon Rawlings and his family of Neoga; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sisters, Viola and Rose in infancy, Juanita Camic Van Kirk and Pauline Winings; and brothers, Victor Jones and Maurice Jones.
Eckerty
CHARLESTON -- Ivalou Eckerty, 85, Brocton, died Monday (March 24, 2003).
Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Brocton Christian Church. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Adams Funeral Chapel, Charleston. Burial: Payne Cemetery, Brocton. Memorials: Brocton Christian Church or Prairieview Care Center of Charleston Activity Fund.
Member: Brocton Christian Church and American Legion Women's Auxiliary. Survivors: daughters, Marilyn Artel, Betty Jeffery, Sharon Kaye Jacobs and Debra Dunning; brother, Paul Henry Vaught; 20 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Preceded by: parents, husband, three sons, one daughter, two brothers, four sisters and one grandson.
Eskew
EFFINGHAM -- Mildred E. Eskew, 72, Effingham, retired bookkeeper, died Sunday (March 23, 2003).
Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Johnson Funeral Home, Effingham. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial: Oakridge Cemetery. Memorials: American Cancer Society.
Frantz
ATWOOD -- Gary Lee Frantz, 48, Atwood, died Monday (March 24, 2003).
Graveside services: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Mackville Cemetery, Atwood. Arrangements by: Hilligoss-Shrader Funeral Home, Atwood. Memorials: to the family.
Survivors: wife, Carol; mother, Jacqueline Frantz, Atwood; daughters, Jenni Frantz, Mattoon; Sharon Frantz, Atwood; sister, Kathy Mitsdarffer, Garrett; brothers, Ronnie Frantz, Hannibal, Mo.; Butch Frantz, Atwood; Mike Frantz, Decatur; one grandchild. Preceded by: father, one brother and grandparents.
