Violet M. Sparling, 85, of Pana, IL passed away at 12:20 PM Thursday Dec. 23, 1999 in St. Vincent's Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, IL.
Mrs. Sparling was born Dec. 13, 1999 at Neoga, IL the daughter of Leonard and Stella Coy Phelps.
Mrs. Sparling previously co-managed, with her husband, the Quality Bottling Co. and the Snack Shack both in Mattoon, IL. They opened the Dutch Mill Discount Center in Pana, IL in 1960 and they presently operate the Dutch Mill Bargain Center in Pana.
She married Carl T. Sparling May 6, 1935 in Mattoon, IL and he survives. Also surviving are daughters Joyce Sparling of Decatur, IL and Karla Sue Stepping of Pana, IL; son-in-law, Jerry Stepping; brothers Paul Phelps of Mattoon, IL and Howard Wayne Phelps of Jacksonville, IL; sisters Vera Groves of Lake Paradise, IL and Norma Jean Bridges of Stewardson, IL; grandchildren Andrea Stepping-Garcia and husband, Joe of Dallas, TX and Philip Carl Stepping of Chicago, IL; special friend Linda Windell of Taylorville, IL.
She was preceded in death by one son Jackie Joe at birth, her parents and brothers Garl and Lowell Phelps.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday Dec. 28, 1999 in the Lockart and Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Visitation will be one hour before the services. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery in Paradise Township in Coles County. Memorials can be made to the St. Vincent's Memorial Hospital Home Care and Hospice. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband, family and friends.
B.P. "Bernie" Weber
B.P. "Bernie" Weber, 77, of rural Lerna, passed away at 2:47 p.m. on Thursday, December 23, 1999, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
The graveside funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday (this) morning at the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. The funeral was held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Broadway Christian Church with the Reverend William Stark officiating. Visitation was held from 3:00 p.m. until time of service Sunday afternoon at the Broadway Christian Church. The Schilling Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
B.P. was born in Coles County on June 9, 1922, a son of Joseph P. and Pearl Edith Louthan Weber. He married Joan E. Sampson on February 15, 1947. Survivors include his wife, Joan E. Weber of rural Lerna; one son, Steven D. Weber and wife Kathleen "Kate" of Ipswich, England; one daughter, Karen Sue Michalski and husband Michael of Zionsville, Indiana; one brother, Joseph Peter Weber Jr. and wife Uldine of Bradenton, Florida; one sister, Virginia Dolce and husband Emil of Mattoon; four grandchildren, Sara L. Weber and Ellen M. Weber, both Ipswich, England, and Paul D. Michalski and Scott J. Michalski, both of Zionsville, Indiana.
Mr. Weber worked for Blaw Knox, retiring in 1987, following twenty-five years of service.
Alva Wood
MATTOON - Alva Dayne Wood, 83, of Mattoon, died at 7:15 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 23, 1999) at his daughters' home in St. Joseph.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. E.E. Elliott officiating. A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. at Eastlawn Cemetery, Salem. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home with Masonic Rites at 8 p.m. by Mattoon Lodge No. 260.
He was born Sept. 6, 1916, the son of Edward and Eva Mae Yardley Wood. He married Maxine Groff in 1940. She survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Bill (Willadene) Caylor of Solana Beach, Calif., and Mrs. Tom (Ruth Ann) Fleenor of St. Joseph; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one sister.
Mr. Wood was a retired welder working through Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local No. 149. He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he was a past deacon. He was also a member and Past Master of Mattoon Masonic Lodge No. 260 and of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church.
Emily M. Dolson
MATTOON - Emily M. Dolson, 85, of Mattoon, passed away at 11:23 p.m. Monday, December 20, 1999 at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 23, 1999 at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with James R. Dolson officiating. Interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time.
Emily was born February 8, 1914 in Charleston, daughter of Harry H. and Sarah A. Williams Duckworth. She married Kenneth Dolson in 1933. Survivors include one son: James R. Dolson and wife Gloria of Bakersfield, CA; two daughters: Jerrilyn R. Bontempi of Tucson, AZ and Sally D. Ryan and husband Stephen of Mattoon; and one sister: Martha Dannenberg of Terre Haute, IN. Seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by one brother.
Emily retired from Brown Shoe Company, where she had worked for more than forty years. Emily was a former member of the Mattoon Women's Bowling Association.
Memorials may be given to the charity of the donors' choice.
Robert P. Helton
MIDDLESWORTH - Robert P. Helton, 85, of Middlesworth, died at 1:05 p.m. Monday, December 20, 1999 in Sheryl's Place, Shelbyville.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville. Visitation from 1:00 p.m. until time of service. Burial will be in Helton Cemetery, Middlesworth with military rites. Memorials may be given to Sheryl's Place.
Mr. Helton was born June 16, 1914, in Shelbyville, the son of Isaac Clyde and Bessie Ann Piper Helton. He was a retired farmer and a U.S. Navy veteran of WW II. He was a member of the First Christian Church, Roy Vanderpool American Legion Post #81, and V.F.W. Post #4829 all of Shelbyville, former Shelby County Board Member and an umpire for the fast pitch softball and little league programs in Shelbyville for many years. He married Lena D. Florini on October 14, 1939. She died on July 16, 1992.
Surviving are his sons, Jack Helton and wife Joyce of Glendale, AZ and Robert J. Helton and wife Sara of Shelbyville; four grandchildren, Jesse Joe Helton, Amy Jo Helton, Scott Alan Helton and Greg Andrew Helton; and long time family friend, Mildred Hill.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife.
Maude Michaels
MATTOON - Maude M. Michaels, 86, of Mattoon, died at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 21, 1999) at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert C. Clark officiating. Burial will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
She was born Nov. 25, 1913, in Mattoon, the daughter of Asa and Bessie Wilcoxon Swayze. She married Gilbert J. Michaels in 1935. He died in 1991.
Surviving are one son, Robert Michaels of Mattoon; two daughters, Mrs. Kim (Carol) Hopkins of Mattoon and Sharon Childress of Cape Coral, Fla.; one sister, Christine Clow of Mattoon; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Michaels was a cook for Community Unit #2 schools, a member of First Presbyterian Church, and the Moose, Eagles, and Rebekah Lodges.
Anna Munson
MARTINSVILLE - Anna G. Munson, 81, of Martinsville, died at 9 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 21, 1999) at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Markwell Funeral Home, Casey.
Myra Stites
CHARLESTON - Myra Ellen Stites, 97, of Charleston, died at 12:17 p.m. Monday (Dec. 20, 1999) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Harper-Swickard Funeral Home with the Rev. Ted Hartley officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
She was born Aug. 30, 1902, in Coles County, the daughter of William and Lula Edwards Hunt. She married Paul A. Stites in 1921. He died in 1976.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Frank (Betty Lou) Shevlin of Charleston; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, one daughter, and two brothers.
Mrs. Stites was an employee of Brown Shoe Factory for 35 years and a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church, Charleston, for 85 years.
Robert Stoke Sr.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Robert E. Stoke Sr., 72, of San Antonio, Texas, formerly of Neoga, died at 11:33 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 16, 1999) at Ven Cor Hospital, San Antonio, Texas.
Arrangements are pending.
Ree Booth
ARCOLA - Ree Booth, 92, of Arcola died at 5:30 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 18, 1999) at the Arthur Home.
The funeral was Monday at Edwards Funeral Home in Arcola with the Rev. Barney Wells officiating. The burial site is in Arcola Cemetery.
She was born March 29, 1907, in Annetta, Ky., the daughter of Benny and Tisha (Carroll) Decker. She married Zelphie H. Booth in 1926. He died in 1983.
Surviving are one son, Charles Everette Booth of Glendale, Ariz.; two daughters, Mary E. Edwards and N. Alice Walters, both of Arcola; one half-sister, Amy Tilford of Williamsville; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one infant daughter, one grandson, one great-grandson, one half-sister and four half-brothers.
Mrs. Booth was a homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, houseplants and spending time with her family.
