SHELBYVILLE - Dorothy Beals, 72, of Shelbyville, died at 5:32 p.m.
Tuesday (Sept. 25, 2001) at Springfield Memorial Medical Center,
Springfield.
Arrangements are incomplete at Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, Neoga.
Wilbur Brant
NEOGA - Wilbur E. Brant, 70, of Neoga, died at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday (Sept.
25, 2001) at his home.
Arrangements are incomplete at Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, Neoga.
Floyd Butler
CHARLESTON - Floyd C. Butler, 81, of Charleston, died at 10:56 a.m.
Tuesday (Sept. 25, 2001) at his home.
Arrangements are incomplete at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Chapel.
Larry Harshbarger
GALLATIN, Tenn. - Lawrence "Larry" Stephen Harshbarger Jr., 71, of
Gallatin, Tenn., died Sept. 20, 2001.
A memorial service was held at the Hendersonville Chapel. Burial with full
military rites was conducted at the Nashville Cemetery.
He was born Aug. 14, 1930, in Onarga, the son of Lawrence Stephen Sr.
and Gladys Cole Harshbarger.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby Eaton Harshbarger; five sons, Rod, Paul,
Mike and Mitch Cook, all of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Mark Harshbarger
of Goodlettsville, Tenn.; one daughter, Debbie Gerbers of Loveland, Colo.;
one sister, Mardelle Goldsmith of Mattoon; 16 grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
Mr. Harshbarger retired as an Army sergeant E-7 after serving 20 years in
the military and was currently employed by ABC Auction Co. He was a
member of the Hendersonville Chapel.
Mildred Higgenbotham
MARTINSVILLE - Mildred Louise Higginbotham, 78, of rural
Martinsville, died at 11:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 22, 2001) at Heartland
Manor Nursing Home in Casey.
A graveside service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Harrison Cemetery,
west of West Union, with the Rev. Richard Chapman officiating. Visitation
will be 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Chapel in West Union.
She was born Jan. 23, 1923, in Terre Haute, Ind., the daughter of Earl
Fowler and Elsie Lindley Fowler. She married Eugene Higginbotham in
1941; he survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Jerry D. "Bub" Higginbotham of Brazil,
Ind., and Larry E. Higginbotham of Sarasota, Fla., and one brother, Robert
L. Webster of Brazil, Ind.
Mrs. Higgenbotham was a homemaker. She was a member of the West
Union Christian Church.
Memorials may be made to the Harrison Cemetery to assist with upkeep.
DR. CHARLES JOSEPH MONTGOMERY
CHARLESTON, IL - Dr. Charles Joseph Montgomery, age 93 and retired
Charleston dentist formerly of Carbondale, Illinois and Big Rapids,
Michigan passed away on Sunday, September 23, 2001 at Hilltop
Convalescent Center. Memorial Services celebrating his life will be held at
10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 29 (2001) with Father Joseph Ring
presiding. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Services and visitation will be at Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee
Drive in Charleston. Interment will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Oakland
Cemetery in Carbondale, Illinois.
Doc, as he was affectionately known, was born January 3, 1908 in DeSoto,
Illinois the son of John and Mamie (McCullough) Montgomery. He married
Elizabeth Mitchell on September 6, 1933 in Carbondale, Illinois. Following
Elizabeth's death, he married Marian Bails in Charleston on July 17, 1993.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife Marian of Charleston; two
sons, John E. Montgomery and his wife Pat of Big Rapids, Michigan and
Joe W. Montgomery and his wife Joan of Greenville, Illinois; nine
grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren. He was preceded by his
parents; his wife Elizabeth who passed away in January, 1993; and two
sons, Jimmy Montgomery and Charles "Chuck" Montgomery.
Doc was a Member of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church of
Charleston, a Life Member of Knights of Columbus Council #4024,
Charleston Kiwanis Club, Forsyth (Missouri) Lions Club and Charleston
B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #623. A Graduate of St. Louis University School of
Dentistry, he practiced dentistry in Charleston for twenty-six years. To him,
dentistry was much more than a profession; practicing dentistry was an
avocation, a calling, and he served his patients with compassion, expertise
and his vibrant and engaging personality. In 1963, he and Elizabeth moved
to Forsyth in southwest Missouri where he continued to practice dentistry
and satisfy his appetite for fishing.
While living in Forsyth, he enjoyed serving as a Professional Fishing Guide
on near-by Lake Taney Como, Bull Shoals and Table Rock Lakes. Those
close to him will recall his expertise in dentistry was matched only by his
expertise and competence in fishing. He was an artist in both - artist, in this
instance, being defined as a person who exhibits exceptional skill. He also
enjoyed hunting, but his avocation and hobbies were second only to his
love for family and country. He was a Veteran of World War II, having
served with the United States Army and was discharged as a Lt. Colonel.
Doc's family requests that memorials in his honor be made to Saint Charles
Borromeo Catholic Church of Charleston. Memorials may be made at the
Services or Visitation, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee
Drive, Charleston, IL 61920.
Beverly Postelwait
SIDELL, IL - Beverly Jane Postelwait, 43, of Sidell, IL, formerly of
Metcalf, IL, died at 2 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, at her home.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2001, at Joines Funeral Home
in Newman, IL, with minister Tim Pearman officiating. Burial will be in the
Young American Cemetery, Hume, IL. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m.
Thursday at the funeral home.
She was born Dec. 23, 1957 in Paris, a daughter of Ancil Hires and
Mildred Johnson Hires. He married David Postelwait; he died Sunday,
Sept. 24, 2001.
Survivors include her mother, Mildred Johnson Hires of Metcalf, IL; a son,
Brian McGinness of Norman, Okla.; one daughter, Christina McGinness of
Murdock, IL; three sisters, Virginia Hires of Metcalf, IL, Maxine Hill of
Clinton, Ind., and Daisy Foote of Chrisman, IL; three grandchildren,
Katarina, Faith and Angelica Yeazel; several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her father and a granddaughter.
Mrs. Postelwait had worked at the Champaign Post Office for 21 years.
She was a collector of unicorns and loved her dog Bobber.
Janet Rains
HUTSONVILLE - Janet Van Doel Rains, 65, of rural Hutsonville, died at
3:45 a.m. Monday (Sept. 24, 2001) at Burnsides Nursing Home in
Marshall.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Chapel in
West Union with the Rev. Richard Chapman officiating. Burial will be in
Hutsonville Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and after 7
a.m. Thursday at the chapel.
She was born Oct. 3, 1935, in Tacoma, Wash., the daughter of Richard
and Edna Josephine Peterson Van Doel. She married Gerald B. Rains in
1953; he survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Gerald B. Rains Jr. and Bruce Rains of
Hutsonville; five daughters, Melissa Garrard of New Hebron, Debby Nidey
of Robinson, Georgeanne Pinkston of rural West Union, Terry Adams of
Sturgis, Ky., and Suzan Spurgeon of Columbus, Ind.; one brother, Richard
Van Doel of Palestine; one sister, Dorothy Van Doel of Tacoma, Wash.;
four stepsisters, Barbara Bridgewater, Susie Scott, Gracie Steffens and
Carol Mullins; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one sister and one grandchild.
Mrs. Rains was a homemaker and a private duty sitter.
Memorials may be made to the Burnsides Nursing Home.
Robert Robinson
MATTOON - Robert Donald "Bob" Robinson, 72, of Mattoon, died at
2:08 a.m. Monday (Sept. 24, 2001) at his residence.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Schilling Funeral Home with
the Rev. Mark Prevo officiating. Burial will be in Beals Cemetery.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.
He was born Jan. 27, 1929, in Coles County, the son of Isaac and Clara
Beals Robinson. He married Violet Loraine Boothe in 1949; she died in
2000.
Survivors include three daughters, Janet Butcher of Jefferson City, Mo.,
Dolores Brown of Lisbon, Ohio, and Bobbie Coy of Mattoon; two
brothers, Bill and Floyd Robinson, both of Mattoon; three sisters, Maxine
Rickelman of Hammond, Ind., Bonnie Harris of Mattoon and Nina
Bundrandt of Stockton, Mo.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren;
and special friend, Brenda Harris of Mattoon.
Mr. Robinson was a maintenance mechanic for USI in Tuscola. He was a
former member of the American Legion Post 88, the Eagles Club and the
Masons. He was an Air Force veteran of World War II.
Memorials may be made to the Lincolnland Hospice.
Robert "Bobby" Jason Sowers
GREENUP, IL - Robert "Bobby" Jason Sowers, age 14, of Greenup, IL,
passed away at 4:10 p.m. Monday (Sept. 24, 2001) from injuries received
in an automobile accident.
The funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2001, at the
Cumberland High School Gymnasium, rural Greenup, with Father Jeff
Grant officiating. Burial will be in the Greenup Cemetery. Visitation will be
4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Bishop Funeral Home in Greenup. In memory
of Bobby memorials may be made to the Cumberland Sports Boosters or
Christ the King Catholic Church in Greenup.
Bobby was born in Mattoon, Illinois, on October 31, 1986, the son of
Robert "Duff" and Lisa (Nadolski) Sowers.
Bobby was a Freshman at Cumberland High School. He was a member of
the Christ the King Catholic Church in Greenup, Cumberland Pirate
Frosh-Soph football team and an Explorer with the Greenup Fire
Department.
Bobby is survived by his loving parents and special friend, Mollie; paternal
grandparent, Kenneth J. Sowers of Greenup; maternal grandparents,
JoAnne Nadolski of Fresno, CA., and James Nadolski of Costa Rica;
great-grandmother, La Verne Nadolski of Northfield, MA; aunts and
uncles, Michael and Nancy Sowers of Greenup, Scott and Rose Sowers of
Trilla, Miki Adams of Madison Heights, VA, Kristy Reynolds of Mattoon,
Cindy Schumacher of Kingston, GA and Michelle and Gerry Toms of
Fresno, CA and 10 cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Rose Marie Sowers.
