MATTOON - Dennis Vernon Erwin, age 53, of Mattoon, passed away at 3:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2001, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2001, at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with Reverend Jim Walker and Pastor Mike Erwin officiating.
Interment will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery with military rites by VFW Post 4325.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. this evening at the funeral home.
Dennis Vernon Erwin was born September 24, 1947 at Oakwood, Illinois, a son of Vernon Sylvester and Faith Lenora Cole Erwin.
He married Doris June Gary December 25, 1966 at Oakwood, she survives.
Also surviving are his children, Dennis Michael Erwin and wife Kimberly of Mt. Carmel, Illinois and Kimberly Dawn Weaver and her husband George Andrew of Humboldt.
A brother, Jerry Erwin of Danville and sisters, Marion Lumsargis of Westville, Marilyn Parrish of Muncie, Illinois, Lona Reed of Henning, Illinois and Carla Wade of Oakwood also survive.
Mr. Erwin leaves three grandchildren, Dalton Michael Erwin, Dulcey Lane Weaver and Emilie Ann Weaver.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Helen Erwin.
Mr. Erwin was a member of Humboldt United Methodist Church and held various leadership positions in the church.
He also played and sang in a gospel band at are churches and nursing homes.
Mr. Erwin was a branch manager of Illinois Bearing-Motion Industries for thirty one years.
He served his country in the United States Army stationed at Camp Darby, Italy during the Viet Nam Era and was in the Central Intelligence Agency.
Dennis was a member of the Humboldt Town Board and was a volunteer fireman for the Humboldt Fire Department for several years.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society
JAMES HILLS
MARSHALL - James G. "Jim" Hills, age 62, of Marshall, IL, died at 3:15 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2001, in Union Hospital, Terre Haute, IN.
He was born May 13, 1938, in Martinsville Township, Clark County, IL, a son of Bernell G. Hills and Marie Harlow Hills.
He married Carolyn Fessenbeck on February 25, 1955; she survives.
Other survivors include one son, James Allen Hills of Marshall, IL; two brothers, Paul and Don Hills, both of Martinsville, IL; one sister, Sandra Ulrey of Martinsville, IL; four grandchildren, Marsi Fowler and Carl Hentrich both of Marshall, IL, Mike Hills of Tallahassee, FL and Mrs. Daness (John) Parker of New Goshen, IN; seven great-grandchildren, Timberlee and Walker Fowler, Christopher and Catie Hentrich, Sarah Hills, John A. and Dillon Parker.
The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Greenwell Funeral Home, Martinsville, IL with the Rev. Steven Greene.
Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Burial, with military rites by the Martinsville American Legion Post #515, will be in St. Paul Cemetery, rural Martinsville, IL.
Mr. Hills was a retired heavy equipment operator for NE-CO Asphalt Company of Charleston, IL.
From Dec. 1970 through Dec. 1978 he served as the Sheriff of Clark County, IL.
He was a member of the Charleston Moose Lodge. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
Ralph C. Lading
STRASBURG, Illinois - Ralph Charles Lading, 90, of Strasburg died at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, 2001 in Shelbyville Manor.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Strasburg, with the Rev. Gary Fortkamp and Rev. Michael Mohr officiating.
Visitation will be in the church from 9:30 a.m. Friday until time of service.
Burial will be in St. Paul's Cemetery, Strasburg.
Memorials may be given to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or donor's choice.
Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Strasburg is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Lading was born on February 8, 1911, in Strasburg, the youngest child of Henry and Anna Dannenberg Lading.
He was a lifelong farmer in Shelby County and was a past county committee member with the ASCS office in Shelbyville.
He was a member of St.Paul's Lutheran Church, Strasburg.
He married Mary Margaret Leathers in 1939, she survives.
Also surviving are his children, Connie Searl and husband Sanford of Argenta, Larry Lading and wife Jean and Kay Halford and husband Larry all of Strasburg.
His life has been blessed with grandchildren, Sherri Hays and husband Scott of Argenta, Stacia Dowell and husband Doug of Bloomington, Jennifer Ampuja and husband Mark of Auburn, New Hampshire, Derrick York of Chicago and Dustin York of Champaign; and step-grandchildren, Leah Thorp and husband Brian of Ixonia, Wisconsin and Anthony Halford of Lakeville, Minnesota; great-grandchildren, Cameron, Olivia and Byron Hays of Argenta and step-great grandson, Clayton Thorp of Ixonia, Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, Jeffrey Scott Searl in 1991; six sisters, Louise Kircher, Emma Pfeiffer, Leah Tesnow, Florence Lading, Clara Buesking and Anna Sharpe; and one brother, Otto Lading.
Dolores Sloboda
BURBANK, IL - Dolores M. Sloboda, of Burbank, Illinois. Sister of Mrs. Shirley Glenn, Mrs. Ralph Glenn, Aunt of James, Michael, Sharon Doty, and Cheryl Mayer.
Visitation Thursday 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Funeral services Friday 10:00 a.m. at Lawn Funeral Home, 7909 State Road (5500W), Burbank, IL 60459.
Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to: Hospice of Lincolnland, or to The First Presbyterian Church of Mattoon.
Funeral Info: (708) 636-2320.
DOROTHY BUTLER
CHARLESTON - Dorothy Elizabeth Crail Butler, 84, formerly of Charleston, passed away at 2:35 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2001 at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home in Mattoon.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2001 at the Caudill-King Funeral Home, 1117 Jackson, Charleston, with Reverend Bill Boaz officiating.
Interment will be in Kickapoo Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Dorothy was born June 18, 1916, in Coles County, daughter of William and Naomi Hackett Crail.
She married Everett Russell Butler August 27, 1932; he died in 1973.
Survivors include one daughter: Jackie Reeley and husband Russell of Sun City, AZ; two sons: Loren Butler an wife Carrol of Troy, IL and Ben Butler and wife Sally of Witton, MN. One brother: J.P. Crail of Charleston and one sister: Betty Gregory of Donelson, TN; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild also survive.
She was preceded in death by one granddaughter: Susan Daitsch.
Dorothy was a former employee of Brown Shoe and retired from housekeeping at EIU.
She was a member of the Charleston Rebekah Lodge #66.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home, 201 Lafayette E. Mattoon, IL 61938.
William T. Carter
MATTOON - William T. Carter, age 74, of Mattoon, passed away at 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2001, at his residence.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2001, at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Bethel Cemetery with military rites by VFW Post 4325.
William T. Carter was born July 27, 1926, at Mattoon, a son of Allison and Grace Atteberry Carter.
He married Norma Jean Scott March 20, 1948, at Mattoon.
He is survived by his wife, Norma of Mattoon; his children, Billie Jean Seaman and husband Darrell of Olney, Jill Sartwell and husband Carl of St. Joseph, Illinois, Kay Leitch and husband Larry of Mattoon and Timothy Carter of Venice, Florida.
Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Marjorie Burrell of Mattoon and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother and four sisters.
Mr. Carter was a member of the First Baptist Church.
He was a retired conductor for the Illinois Central Railroad and served his country during World War II as a member of the United States Navy.
Mr. Carter was a member of the Elk's Lodge in Venice, Florida.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lincolnland Hospice in care of Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home in lieu of flowers.
James Hills
MARSHALL - James G. "Jim" Hills, age 6 9, Township, Clark County, IL, a son of Bernell G. Hills and Marie Harlow Hills.
He married Carolyn Fessenbeck on February 25, 1955; she survives.
Other survivors include one son, James Allen Hills of Marshall, IL; two brothers, Paul and Don Hills, both of Martinsville, IL; one sister, Sandra Ulrey of Martinsville, IL; four grandchildren, Marsi Fowler and Carl Hentrich both of Marshall, IL, Mike Hills of Tallahassee, FL and Mrs. Daness (John) Parker of New Goshen, IN; seven great-grandchildren, Timberlee and Walker Fowler, Christopher and Catie Hentrich, Sarah Hills, John A. and Dillon Parker.
The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Greenwell Funeral Home, Martinsville, IL with the Rev. Steven Greene.
Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Burial, with military rites by the Martinsville American Legion Post #515, will be in St. Paul Cemetery, rural Martinsville, IL.
Mr. Hills was a retired heavy equipment operator for NE-CO Asphalt Company of Charleston, IL.
From Dec. 1970 through Dec. 1978 he served as the Sheriff of Clark County, IL.
He was a member of the Charleston Moose Lodge.
Leona F. Hurst
MATTOON - Leona F. Hurst, age 92, of Mattoon, passed away at 4:05 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2001, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2001 at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, with Reverend Jerry Jones and Reverend Greg Wheeler officiating.
Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. today at the funeral home.
Leona F. Hurst was born May 18, 1908, in Effingham County, Illinois, a daughter of William and Gertrude Hollis Alwert.
She married Emery J. Hurst, in Effingham, on Jan. 11, 1928; he preceded her in death in 1965.
She is survived by a daughter, Jo Ann Baker and her husband Bud of Mattoon; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son, one daughter, three brothers, and three sisters.
Mrs. Hurst was a member of Praise Assembly in Charleston.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Praise Assembly Building Fund.
SHIRLEY BALLARD
Shirley Ann Ballard, age 66, of Mattoon, passed away at 10:05 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2001, at her home surrounded by her family.
Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the Schilling Funeral Home.
Graveside funeral services celebrating her life will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Vincennes, Indiana with the Reverend Bob Hackler officiating.
Shirley was born January 30, 1935, in Bicknell, Indiana, a daughter for Bertram and Francis Meeks Beaman.
She married Lee E. Ballard on May 30, 1953. He survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Michael Lee Ballard and wife Lorraine of Carlsbad, Calif., Robert Lyman Ballard and wife LeAnn of Rantoul and Jerry Edwin Ballard and wife Stacy of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; one daughter, Kay Ann Callison and husband Jamie of rural Charleston; one brother, Bertram Beaman and wife Margie of Vincennes, Ind.,; two sisters, Beverly Tiesing and husband Jim and Fran Biehl and husband Herschel, all of Vincennes, Ind.; and three grandchildren, Joseph Myers Ballard of Rantoul, Kendra Lee Callison and Corey James Callison, both of rural Charleston.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Bob Beaman, and one granddaughter, Emily Christine Ballard.
Mrs. Ballard was a homemaker and former co-owner and operator of Lee's Restaurant.
She loved making crocheted handiwork, especially afghans and doilies, which she liked to share with family and friends.
She also was a popular face among the bingo crowd.
Memorial gifts may be made to Lincolnland Hospice.
Kathleen Bennett
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -Kathleen M. Prust Bennett, 91, of Indianapolis, Ind., formerly of Marshall, died 10 a.m. Friday (April 27, 2001) at Westpark Healthcare Center in Indianapolis, Ind.
The funeral will be 1 p.m. Monday at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union with Pastor John Davis officiating.
Burial will be in Marshall Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon until service time on Monday.
She was born March 4, 1910 in West Union, the daughter of Harry and Louisa Files Prust.
She married Tarquin C. Bennett in 1929. He died in 1996.
Surviving are one daughter, Norma Lee Elsey of Lebanon, Ind.; one son, Burton D. Bennett of Franklin, Ind.; and three granddaughters and five great-grandsons.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, one daughter and five brothers.
Mrs. Bennett was a homemaker and member of the First United Methodist Church, Marshall Pythian Sisters and Marshall Eastern Star Chapter 739.
CARL BRIGHT
Carl E. Bright, age 80, of Mattoon, passed away at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2001, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Funeral services celebrating his life will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Schilling Funeral Home with the Reverend Robert C. Clark officiating.
Burial with military rites by the V.F.W. Post 4325 will be in the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
Carl was born December 31, 1920, in Cumberland County, the son of Johnson M. and Florence Carlen Bright.
He married Jetta S. Jones on June 2, 1961. She survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Vickie Dowell of Mattoon, Kimberly Finn and husband Matt of St. Louis, Missouri, and Karla Grzeskowiak and husband Mark of Chicago; and two grandchildren, Aidan N. Finn and Ashlyn A. Finn, both of St. Louis, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by a half-brother, stepbrother and stepsister.
Mr. Bright served as a security guard with Burn's Security which serviced R.R. Donnelley and Sons in Mattoon.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the American Legion and the First Christian Church.
Memorial gifts may be made to the First Christian Church.
