Betty Gene Coombs

ST. JOSEPH – Betty Gene Coombs of St. Joseph, formerly of Tuscola, passed away on Thursday (Jan. 14, 2016) at her daughter's home in St. Joseph.

Betty was born in Shelby County on July 28, 1926, to Arlie and Maude (Houser) Craig.

She married Calvin S. Coombs on Dec. 5, 1945. He preceded her in death on Sept. 4, 2015. She was also preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and four brothers.

Betty is survived by their son, Ron (Sue) Coombs of East Peoria; daughter, Connie (Ed) Kroll of St. Joseph; daughter, Pennie (Dale) Poynter of Tuscola; son, Mike (Chris) Coombs of Tower Hill; brother, Paul "Short" Craig of Sullivan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Betty and Calvin have 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

There are many things that Betty will be remembered for. She enjoyed writing to and receiving letters from family members. She was adored for her cooking with a specialty of noodles, applesauce cookies and summer sausage. Before retiring in 1996, she did a lot of gardening and canning.

Betty loved her family dearly. She kept up on their accomplishments and looked forward to their visits and phone calls more than anything. She was a constant source of hugs, kisses and "I love you's." All of these will be missed more than words can express.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Joines Funeral Home, Villa Grove, with a short service at 1:45 p.m. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at Arthur Cemetery, Arthur.

Raymond F. "Joe" Schnellenberger

TOLONO – Raymond F. "Joe" Schnellenberger, 91, of Tolono passed away at 6:20 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 14, 2016) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

Services will be held at a later date.

Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

Joe was born on Nov. 17, 1924, in Adyville, Ind., the son of Albert and Sadie Hobbs Schnellenberger. He married Ethel Gentry on Dec. 22, 1948. She preceded him in death in 1987.

He is survived by his children, Rebecca (Steve) Reifsteck of Ogden, Scott Schnellenberger of Champaign and Jennifer L. Mohr of Tolono; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and two half brothers, Alan Schnellenberger of Williamsville, Ill., and Nathan Schnellenberger of Jasper, Ind.

Also surviving from a previous marriage are seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two children, four sisters, three brothers and one grandchild.

Joe was an Army veteran of World War II who served in France and the Philippines where he prepared for the invasion of Japan. After the bomb was dropped, he served in Japan with the occupation forces. He also served on the Al-Can Highway with Operation Snowshoe.

Joe worked as a drainage contractor with Schnellenberger Tiling from 1962 to 1984. Joe was a 55-year member of Ogden Masonic Lodge 754.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

M. Ellen Umbarger Frye

TUSCOLA – M. Ellen (Umbarger) Frye passed away on Tuesday (Jan. 12 2016) at Presence Covenant Medical Center in Urbana.

Ellen was born in Allerton on June 5, 1931, the daughter of Ernest and Ruth Umbarger. Having spent her childhood in Allerton and beginning at Allerton High School, she later moved to the Argenta area. There she attended Argenta High School. In her senior year, in 1949, she was the school's homecoming queen.

One quiet day, a young man walked to the back of the school bus to talk to her. This young man was Orville (Toby) Frye. Ellen and Orville were married soon after, on May 19, 1951. Together, they moved to Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, while he was in the Army. While there, she worked as a secretary in the financial office.

When Orville's term of service ended, he and Ellen returned to Tuscola, where they worked and raised their three sons, Jerry, Randy and Tim. While the boys were growing up, their mother lived for Little League, whatever level the boys were playing at the time. Over the years, Ellen held several jobs: as a waitress at the Brookside Cafe, as the church secretary for First Christian Church of Tuscola and for the Tuscola School District. Her favorite position, though, was helping out with the family's golf shop, O' Pro Shop, which the family ran for about 20 years in downtown Tuscola and at Ironhorse Golf Course.

All who knew Ellen will remember her as an avid golfer. She played in several women's leagues in the area, including at Kaskaskia Country Club and Ironhorse Golf Course. She was a former club champion at Tri City Country Club in Villa Grove and even had a hole-in-one at her favorite course, Quail Creek Country Club in Robinson.

"Granny" especially cherished her eight grandchildren, John, Jason, Ross, Jenna, Katie, Laura, Anna and David; her two step-grandsons, Matthew and Steve Friend; and her four Frye great-grandsons, Cohen, Sullivan, Simon and Clark. She loved attending as many of their school and sporting activities as possible, always showering them with encouragement and cheering them on from the sidelines.

Ellen is survived by her husband of 64 years, Orville (Toby) Frye; her sons, Jerry (Priscilla Kron) Frye, Randy (Kathy) Frye and Tim (Pam) Frye. She is also survived by three sisters, Jean Emrick, Ann Perry and Shirley Stout. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers. Ellen will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her family and all those who had the joy of knowing her.

Services celebrating her life will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 S. Main St., Tuscola. Visitation will be two hours prior to the services at the funeral home.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family would appreciate donations to Ellen's favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or to the hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Condolences may be offered online at www.hilligossshraderfh.com.

Irene Osterbur

OGDEN – Irene Osterbur, 85, of Ogden passed away at 7:20 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 9, 2016) at Country Health Care and Rehab, Gifford.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at St. John Lutheran Church, Royal, with Pastor Jay Johnson officiating. Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Royal. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Lutheran Church, with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

Irene was born on April 22, 1930, to Heye and Margaret Roelfs Aden. She married Ernest Osterbur on July 30, 1948, in Royal.

She is survived by her children, Rosalie (Barry) Fisher of St. Joseph and Randall (Sandy) Osterbur of Urbana; grandchildren, Patrick Fisher, Kim Walden, Ryan Fisher, Kelly Kuchefski, Erika Busey and Meghan Fisher; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Bernice Aden of Champaign; three brothers, Mervin Aden of Chillicothe, Ray (Loretta) Aden of St. Joseph and Herb (Nancy) Aden of Newman; and two sisters-in-law, Nettie Henry and Emilie Steffy.

She was preceded in death by her parents and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Irene was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir for many years, taught Sunday School and was an active member in the Women's Bible Study group.

She was a member of the Royal Home Extension and its secretary, and was recognized last year for 50 years of membership. She belonged to the Champaign County Farm Bureau Women's Committee. She was a 4-H leader for several years. Irene was an excellent seamstress and known for all the beautiful clothing she made for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many others. She loved to quilt and was a member of the Royal Quilters. She made many beautiful quilts for her family as well as quilts for church charities.

Irene attended Union Grade School and graduated from Ogden High School in 1948.

She farmed with her husband all her married life until retirement in 2005.

Memorials may be made to Country Health Care and Rehab, Gifford, or to the donor's choice.

Pamela E. Monroe

HOMER – Pamela E. Monroe, 65, of Homer died at 6:24 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 5, 2016) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, Urbana. Burial will be at Stearns Cemetery, Fithian. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Pamela was born Sept. 25, 1950, in Mattoon, the daughter of William E. and Frances L. Titus Dillman. She was married to James Monroe.

Survivors include her son, James Monroe of Harrison, Tenn.; two sisters, Sharon L. Dawson of Homer and Garrie L. Dawson of Brownsburg, Ind.; and one brother, Carson N. Dillman of Mahomet.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Tony Elvin Dillman.

She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and collecting.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be offered online at www.rennerwikoffchapel.com.

Yvonne J. Grussing

SIDNEY – Yvonne J. Grussing, 78, of Sidney passed away at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 5, 2016) at her home.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, at Countryside United Methodist Church with the Rev. Al Simonson, Robin King, Grace Baldridge and Jason Davis officating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Freese Funeral Home, 202 W. Main St., Sidney.

Yvonne was born Jan. 4, 1938, at Shawneetown, the daughter of James and Irene Oldham Eubanks. She married Frank Grussing on Oct. 24, 1959. He preceded her in death in 2001.

She is survived by her children, Sandra K. Speakman of Champaign and Steve (Coletta) Grussing of Effingham; three sisters, Ann (Larry) Austin of Evansville, Ind., Jane Baldridge of Augusta, Ga., and Janis(Del)Beasley of Evansville, Ind.; grandchildren, Jason Speakman, Heather Gardiner, Ryan Grussing and Allison Grussing; two sisters-in-law, Maianna (Gene) Lessen of Lincoln and Beverly (Bob) Albert of Elkhart; and several nieces and nephews.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Bruce L. Grussing.

Yvonne was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church and was the church organist for 50 years. She retired from teaching at Jamaica School District in 2002.

She also belonged to the American Legion Women's Auxiliary, United Methodist Women. Yvonne enjoyed traveling, gardening and spending time with her family.

Memorials may be made to Countryside United Methodist Church.

William T. Butler

HOMER – William T. Butler, 77, of Homer passed away at 11:41 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 5, 2016) at Bridle Brook Senior Living, Mahomet.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, at Freese Funeral Home, Sidney. Burial will be at GAR Cemetery, Homer. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Butler was born June 12, 1938, in Urbana, a son to James Thomas and Grace Stackhouse Butler. He married Patricia Pridemore on Oct. 26, 1957, in Urbana; she preceded in death on Oct. 29, 2015.

Surviving are three children, James Loren (Donna) Butler of Champaign, Julia Ann (Kevin) Thomas of Mahomet and Lynda (Mark) Petrick of Mahomet; 10 grandchildren, Danielle, Katie and Sam Butler, Megan Robinson, Brooke, Zachary and Lacy Thomas, and Jenna, Kelsey and Mackenzie Petrick; and four great-grandchildren, Karsyn Huff and Claire, Sahara and Logan Robinson. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Butler retired from Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District as maintenance superintendent.

He was an avid HAM radio operator with call sign, WB9KMD. He was also a member of Champaign-Urbana Amateur Radio Club. He enjoyed geocaching, loved his classic cars and was a self-taught computer expert before people saw the value of computers and before they were readily available.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association or American Cancer Society.