Army veteran, who served in the Signal Corps.
On Aug. 24, 2002, he married the former Deby Smith. She survives.
Also surviving are his mother and stepfather, Romona and Charles Veale of Benton; two sisters, Jeanette Ast of Emporia, Kan., Linda Wood of Brownwood, Texas; one brother, Kenneth Powell of Emporia, Kan.; five stepsisters and brothers of Indiana; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, and by his maternal grandparents and his paternal grandparents.
GERALD LEE RICE
Benton - Gerald Lee Rice, 61, died at 11:20 p.m. Sunday, July 13, 2003, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Marion.
Funeral services are pending at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home, Benton.
EILEEN SUMMERS
Benton - Eileen Summers died at 8:55 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, at the Franklin Hospital in Benton.
Funeral services are pending at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home, Benton.
RONNIE BOWLBY
Benton - Ronnie Bowlby, 54, formerly of Christopher, died at Good Samaritan R.H.C. of Mt. Vernon, on Thursday, July 10, 2003.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, at Maple Hill Cemetery, Sesser, with Rick Grammer officiating.
Mr. Bowlby was born on July 2, 1949, the son of Walter Wallace Bowlby and Henrietta Finney Bowlby.
He is survived by two sisters, Mary Biggs of Vergennes; Betty Wilcox, Zeigler; one brother David Bowlby of Christopher; special friends Terry and Tammy Key and their children, Benton.
BUCK J. SIMPKINS
Christopher - Buck J. Simpkins, 64, died July 10, 2003 at the VA Medical Center in Marion.
There will be no services as were Mr. Simpkins' wishes.
Mr. Simpkins was born on Dec. 13, 1938 in Zeigler, the son of Albert and Mary Farkas Simpkins. He married Thelma M. Lakeland Simpkins on Aug. 13, 2001, and she survives.
Mr. Simpkins was a veteran of the U.S. Marines, having served in Vietnam.
He was a retired welder and machinist.
He was vice-commander of the American Legion in Zeigler and the Eagles in Zeigler.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Simpkins is survived by his children Didra Mitchell, Zeigler, and Jon Simpkins, Herrin; one granddaughter, Brandi and siblings Albert and Linda Simpkins, Mulkeytown, Steven Simpkins, Miami, Fla., Sharon Johnson, Benton, Texas and Mary Ellen Simpkins, Alton.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is in charge of the arrangements.
DELORIES 'JUNE' HUNGATE
Ina - Delories "June" Hungate, 70, died at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2003, in Forest Park Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 11, at the Poulson Funeral Home, Benton, with the Rev. Eddie Paul Davis officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. this evening to the funeral home.
Mrs. Hungate was born June 11, 1933, in Benton, the daughter of James and Martha Jane (Brown) Talley. She was married to Stewart B. Hungate, and he survives in Ina.
A homemaker, Mrs. Hungate was a member of the Royal Neighbors in Patterson, Ill. She loved shopping, her flower garden, playing cards, fishing and being with her family. She was a member of the Church of God in Benton.
In addition to her husband, other survivors include three sons, David B. Hungate and Paul D. Hungate, both of Thompsonville, and Stewart V. and Melissa Hungate of Benton; five grandchildren, Cassidy Hungate of Sidney, Ill.; Latasha Hungate of Benton, Erica Hungate of Thompsonville, and Tayler Hungate and Grante Hungate, both of Benton; and five sisters, Leoma Wiggins of Morehaven, Fla., LaVaughn and Carl Overturf of Buckner, Billie Burton of Benton, Carolyn Doxsie of Benton, and Linda and Robert Melvin of Logan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, James "Tuck" and Pete Talley, and three sisters, Leoulla Summers, Elizabeth Joplin and Mary Sell.
FLORENCE EVELYN STEWART
Logan - Florence Evelyn Stewart, 84, died Wednesday morning, July 9, 2003, in her home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Carroll Toler officiating at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery. Friends may call after 10 a.m. on Friday until time of service to the funeral home.
Evelyn was born in Benton on Dec. 8, 1918, the daughter of Edgar and Florence (Miller) Sullivan. On Feb. 1, 1936, in Logan, she married Clorice O. Stewart. He preceded her in death on Nov. 30, 1997.
She attended the Logan Baptist Church, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Thompsonville.
Survivors include one son, Gordon Lee Stewart of Logan; two daughters, Marie Mapps and husband Eddie of Marion, and Juanita Provenzano of Melrose Park; five grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Lorene Winemiller of Benton and Pauline Mullins of West Frankfort.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, James Sullivan, and one sister, Fern Kirk.
LENA M. STOCCHI
Christopher - Lena M. Stocchi, 92, of Christopher died Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at Benton Health Care.
A funeral service and burial will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 11, at the Chapel of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago. There will be no local visitation. Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Stocchi was born Feb. 26, 1911, in Italy, the daughter of Peter and Rose (Rebeshini) Loser. She married Aldo Stocchi, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 9, 1983. Her parents also preceded her in death.
A homemaker and a member of the St. Andrews Catholic Church in Christopher, Mrs. Stocchi is survived by a sister, Rena Wojcicki of Homewood; two cousins, Deloris and John Mikalauskis of Benton and Gus Rebeshini of Christopher; and four nieces, Wilma, Rena, Roseann and Phyllis. She also was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
RUTH REBECCA EBERHARDT
Oak Lawn - Ruth Rebecca (Kuykendall) (Sweetin) Eberhardt, 85, died Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at Manor Care Nursing Home in Oak Lawn.
Funeral services were held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2003, at Zimmerman and Sanderman Funeral Home in Oak Lawn, with Pastor Rob Wheeler from Oak Lawn Bible Church officiating. Burial took place at noon on Saturday, July 5, in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, with Pastor Bert Mitchell of the First Baptist Church of West City officiating.
Ruth was born in Barney Mines, Ala., on April 4, 1918, the daughter of Eddie Marvin and Sally Ann (Atkins) Kuykendall. She was raised in Benton and lived here until her marriage.
She was an active member of the Oak Lawn Bible Church and visited nursing homes in the Oak Lawn area, through the church's outreach program.
She was the beloved mother to Willard Lee Sweetin of Linden, Wash.; Lee Eddie Eberhardt of Homer Glen, Ill.; Marvin Dean Eberhardt of Oak Lawn; and Sally Ann (Eberhardt) Fino of LaGrange, Ill.; dear sister-in-law to Margie Kuykendall of Benton; grandmother to 12, great-grandmother to 11.
Her parents and brother, Edward, preceded her in death.
AMELIA SALOV
Benton - Amelia Salov, 72, of Benton died at 12:10 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2003, at the Severin Intermediate Care Home, Benton.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at the Maple Hill Cemetery, Sesser, with Father Joseph Trapp officiating. Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Salov was born Feb. 3, 1931, in Franklin County, the daughter of George and Anna (Navesin) Salov.
She was a resident of the Severin Intermediate Care Home since 1971. She enjoyed her dolls and making necklaces.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Ms. Salov was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, George "Frank" Salov and John Salov, and four sisters, Dina Dickey, Bess Mangiapenelco, Emily Salov, and Mary F. Bailey.
KENNETH W. GROB
Sesser - Kenneth W. Grob, 20, died Friday, July 4, 2003, in the Franklin Hospital emergency room.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2003, in the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, Sesser, with Brother Woody Wilson officiating. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery. Friends may call after 5 p.m. today to the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kelisy Grob Trust Fund.
Mr. Grob was born on Nov. 11, 1982, the son of Bret Grob and wife Sheri, and Kim Allen Robinson and husband Mark.
He was employed at General Tire in Mt. Vernon, was a member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Christopher, American Motorcross Association and Ducks Unlimited.
Survivors include his parents; one daughter, Kelisy Ann Lynn Grob of Sesser; his fiancee and mother of Kelisy, Tara Rawson of Sesser; maternal grandparents, Wayne and Myrtle Allen of Coello, Nancy and the late Ronnie Robinson of Sesser, Delores and the late Boogie Ames of Benton; paternal grandparents, Gerome and Sandy Grob of Sesser, Joyce and Furman Bagwell of Florida, Mick and Brenda Spotanski of Sesser; a sister, Ronna Robinson of Coello; two brothers, Scotty Robinson of Coello and Lane Grob of Sesser; maternal great-grandmother, Ruth Robinson of Sesser; paternal great-grandparents, Goldie Stockton, Fred and Joanne Butler, all of Sesser, and Ida Hale of Christopher; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a grandmother, Lucille Davis, grandparents, Kenneth and Oneda Hoover, and Revia and Ferol Allen, and a special uncle, Mike Regan.
