Gordon Chambliss

Gordon Chambliss

WHEATON – Gordon Delmar Chambliss, 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday (Feb. 23, 2014).
A Wheaton resident for 50 years, he was born Oct. 7, 1919, in the farming community of St. Joseph, to Walter and Minnie (Stonecipher) Chambliss. He attended St. Joseph Grade School and High School, graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Gordon received an ensign's commission in the Naval Reserve in June 1941. He was called to active duty following college graduation in June 1942. His first naval assignment was to Cal Tech in Pasadena, Calif.
After graduating in aeronautical engineering, he went for further training in the Assembly and Repair Shops at the Naval Air Station in San Diego.
From there, he was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and served as an aviation engineering officer in Carrier Aviation Service Units 1 & 88.
After his tour of duty in the Pacific Fleet, he was assigned as inspection and test officer at the Assembly and Repair Shops at Glenview. He was also assigned as a member of the General Court Martial Board.
Gordon claimed that Glenview was the "Country Club" of the Navy. One of his roommates was movie actor Robert Taylor. For a time, Gordon would have breakfast every morning with Marshall Field IV, who had a distinguished career as a gunnery officer in the Pacific.
Following Gordon's honorable discharge from the Navy as a lieutenant commander, he was employed as a research engineer with Shell Oil Company at the Research Laboratory located at the Wood River (Ill.) Refinery.
In 1947, he met his wife-to-be on a blind date to the Indianapolis 500 race. He married the former UI coed, Ruth Turner, of Lincoln on June 27, 1948.
They had two children, Wally and Sue. Gordon was very proud that his two children and four grandchildren all graduated from distinguished universities.
Shell transferred Gordon to Chicago's Product Application Department in 1963. His department was responsible for product specifications, product quality and field testing new products.
A three-year span of his Chicago duties was spent in the "Honesty in Advertising" capacity for the Shell Platformate TV commercials. He retired after 33 years as a staff engineer.
Gordon was active as a leader in Boy Scouts in Wood River. He served as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church, Alton. He was a 50-year member of First Presbyterian Church, Wheaton. He served on the Wheaton Environmental Commission and was president of the Wheaton Mosquito Abatement District for several years.
Gordon was an avid golfer and spent much of his retired years golfing with the weekly seniors group.
Gordon loved growing up in a farming community and was fascinated by the machinery that acted as his inspiration to pursue mechanical engineering. Farmers in those days were self-sufficient and fixed their own machinery. Gordon continued all his life to try to fix everything until computer electronics took over.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Society of Automotive Engineers and Military Officers Association of America.
Gordon was a kind, fascinating man of great knowledge, intellectual curiosity and integrity who loved his family and friends. They will all miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Marie Chambliss Tapscott; brother-in-law, Charles Tapscott; sister-in-law, Jane Turner Scott; and brother-in-law, Richard Dashner.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth; his son, Walter (Lauretta) Chambliss of Lilburn, Ga.; his daughter, Susan (William) Kamm of Wheaton;, his grandchildren, John (Tiffany) Kamm of Austin, Texas, Jennifer Chambliss (Finn) Smith of Alpharetta, Ga., Adam (Desty) Kamm of Chicago and Julie Chambliss (Sean) Murray of Jacksonville, Fla.; his great-grandchildren, Austin, Kamryn and Finley Smith, Will and Katie Kamm, Griffin Murray, baby Murray due in May and baby Kamm due in June; his niece, Elizabeth Tapscott Cupps (William); brother-in-law, Charles Scott; and sister-in-law Alice Turner Dashner.
He was blessed with many wonderful nieces, nephews, extended family and friends, along with his loving caregivers Donna, Harriet and Helen.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until time of service at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at First Presbyterian Church, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton. Interment will be private.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, donations to First Presbyterian Church (www.firstpreswheaton.org) or DuPage Children's Museum (www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org) would honor him.
Friends and family may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.

Fern Kingery

Fern Kingery

ASHLAND, Ala. – Mrs. Fern Mary Kingery, 75, of Ashland passed away Sunday (Feb. 23, 2014) at the UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.
She was born in Minnesota but lived most of her life in Ogden, Ill., and had lived in Ashland, Ala., for the past three years.
She along with her husband of 58 years, Clinton, were owner-operators of the Beer Barrel Tavern and Restaurant in Ogden for several years and were also members of the Fairview Sportsman's Club.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Clinton Kingery of Ashland, Ala.; two sons, Steven Kingery (Melia) of St. Joseph and Michael Kingery (Denise) of Ashland, Ala.; three sisters, Maggie McCoy of Illinois, Donna Hietala and Carol Stockdale, both of Minnesota; one brother, Charles Bimberg, also of Minnesota; six grandchildren, Justin, Joshua, Danny and Cory Kingery, and Tyler Minter and Christin Hurt; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Merle R. Manselle and Lucille Mary Riest Manselle; plus seven brothers and sisters.
Per her request, there will be no services.
Memories and online condolences may be offered at www.benefieldfuneralhome.com.
Benefield Funeral Home in Ashland, Ala., is in charge of the arrangements.

Irma Paden Ennis

Irma Paden Ennis

URBANA – Irma Paden Ennis, 101, died at 10:49 a.m. Sunday (Feb. 23, 2014) at Canterbury Ridge in Urbana.
There will be a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign. The Rev. Steve Brady will officiate. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service (10:30 to 11:30). Burial will be at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Greenup.
Irma was born on Oct. 28, 1912, in Greenup, a daughter of Ransom and Flora (Devall) Packer. She married Frederick Paden on July 7, 1930, in Greenup. She later married Robert Ennis on Dec. 7, 1961, in Westville.
Survivors include one son, James Paden of St. Joseph; one daughter, Mary Wallace of Peoria; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by three sons, five brothers and two sisters.
Irma was a longtime member of Unity Baptist Church in Champaign. She worked at the University of Illinois as a cook, earning retirement in 1962. She later worked at both Bishop's Buffet and Wal-Mart.
Irma was very active her entire life and was quick with a smile and an "I'm OK" no matter what the circumstances. She loved to cook and was never one to shy away from a bit of work.
Irma's contagious laugh and generous hugs will be missed by her entire family.
Condolences may be offered at www.owensfuneralhomes.com.
Memorials may be made to Unity Baptist Church in Champaign.

Charles Brummet

Charles Brummet

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Charles L. Brummet was born in Belle Rive, Ill., on Feb. 21, 1919, to Lewis S. and Cora Seaney Brummet. His early years were spent on the farm near Homer.
He died Thursday (Feb. 20, 2014) in Columbia, Mo.
Mr. Brummet enlisted in the Illinois National Guard 106th Calvary Group on Nov. 25, 1940. He served in the U.S., England, France, Germany, Belgium and Austria until returning home in September 1945.
He married the love of his life, Lois M. Wade, on Nov. 10, 1941, in St. Louis, and they enjoyed 72 years together, living in Sidney until moving to Mahomet and then Columbia, Mo., in December 2013.
He worked at Sullivan Chevrolet for 33 years, retiring in 1981. A hardworking, calm and quiet man who took pride in his work, he enjoyed farming in his early years. He was always ready to help family, friends and neighbors, was able to make or repair just about anything, and enjoyed the outdoors and all types of animals.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marjorie (died in infancy), Dorothy Danner and Francis Clem; and brother, Elmer.
Survivors include his siblings, Arthur, Lyle (Margaret) and Joan (Clayton) Mees; children, Charles R. (Sandra Fahrlander), Susan L. (George Davis), Kenneth G. (Connie Anana) and Rick L. (Susan Tumulty) Brummet; grandchild, Ryan Brummet; stepgrandchildren, Joshua Anana, Mike Sherer and Kelly Zielie; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at noon Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, at Freese Funeral Home, Sidney. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at the funeral home.

Charles McNail

Charles McNail

KEVIL, Ky. – Charles McNail, 68, of Kevil, Ky., died at 11:52 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 18, 2014) at Lourdes Hospital.
Charles was a native of Centralia, and a member of Bethel Christian Church. He was retired from Kraft Foods where he served as production supervisor. He worked for Sears parts and service after his retirement.
He was a graduate of Centralia High School in the Class of 1963. Charles loved and had interest in street rod cars and was a member of River Tin Street Rods.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Erma Jackson McNail; one daughter, Jennifer McNail of Paducah, Ky.; one son, Brad McNail and wife Lisa of Paducah, Ky.; one grandson, Robert McNail; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding in death were his parents, Robert Paul McNail and Vivian Hamilton McNail; twin infant daughters, Melissa and Melinda McNail; one sister, Vivian Leigh Fulton; one brother, Paul McNail; and half brother Frank Fowler.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah, Ky., with Rev. Keith Tilford officiating. Burial will follow in Bethel Christian Church Cemetery.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Bethel Christian Church, 12245 Woodville Road, Kevil, KY 42053.
You may light a candle or leave a message of sympathy at www.milnerandorr.com.

Stephen Anderson

Stephen Anderson

URBANA – Stephen Michael Anderson, age 66, of Urbana passed away at 10:35 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 30, 2014) at Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System's Palliative Care Unit, Danville.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at Danville National Cemetery, Danville.
Mike was born Dec. 10, 1947, in Tuscola, the son of Ralph and Mary Vaughn Anderson.
He is survived by a sister, Debra (Marc )Osterbur of Royal; a half sister, Susie Llewellyn of Ohio; nieces and nephews, Stacey Smith of St. Joseph, Todd Osterbur of Florida, Tim Osterbur of Sidney and Sandra Driggers of Erie, Pa.; several great-nieces and great-nephews; aunts, Barbara Gosnell of Villa Grove and Jessie Griffith of Urbana; and uncles, William Anderson of Champaign and Paul Anderson of St. Joseph.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and his maternal grandparents, Virgel and Marie Vaughn, and his paternal grandparents, William and Mallie Anderson.
Mike graduated from Champaign Central High School in 1966. He attended Danville Community College until enlisting in the Army in 1968. After a tour of duty in Vietnam, he was honorably discharged in 1970. He graduated from Illinois State University in 1974 with a bachelor's in sociology.
Due to his service disability, Mike spent his later years residing at the VA Medical Center in Danville. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire medical staff for the loving care given to Mike.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran youth Group Mission Fund or the VA Medical Center Palliative Care Unit.