Remembering Departed Members of Anna-Jonesboro High School, A-J Class of 1931

Willis Lloyd Belcher 1914 2008, A-J Class 1931, Belcher Electric Company Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Willis Lloyd Belcher, 94, died at 6:55 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, in Union County Nursing Home in Anna. He was born Jan. 5, 1914, in Union County, the son of Roy and Dora Boyce Belcher. He married Marie Tinckham on Dec. 12, 1936, in Anna. She preceded him in death Jan. 26, 2001. Willis is survived by two children, John Belcher and wife, Susan, of Anna, Wanda Dillow and husband, Rick, of Anna; one brother, Carroll Belcher of Anna; six grandchildren, Amy Linsin and husband, Dennis, John David Belcher, Abby Kloep and husband, Michael, Wade Belcher and wife, Sherry, Matt Dillon and wife, Cheryl, and Adam Dillon; two step grandchildren, Alecia Hayes and Andrea Pritchard and husband, Bryan; 17 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marie Belcher; an infant son, Donald Belcher; two brothers, Roy and Harry Belcher; a son-in-law, Roger Dillon; and a stepgrandchild, Aimee Dillow. Willis was a member of United Methodist Church in Anna. He was a member of Anna Masonic Lodge 520 AF & AM for 69 years and Ainad Shrine Temple of East St. Louis. He started Belcher Electric Company in Anna in 1946, which he operated with his son, John, for many years. Willis served on Anna City Council for eight years prior to becoming mayor of Anna in 1982. In 1984 was appointed to Union County Board of Commissioners. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, in Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. Bill Minor officiating. Burial will be in Anna City Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church or the donor's choice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Published: The Gazette-Democrat

Violet Hankla Cantrell 1912 2008, A-J Class of 1931, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

ANNA - Violet Cantrell, 96, died at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, in St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Crain Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. Albert Nyland officiating. Interment will be in Anna Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mrs. Cantrell worked at International Shoe Company and Duty Ford. She also worked as a clerk at the ASCS office. She was a member of Mount Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna, along with the VFW and American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. During the 1940s and 1950s, she was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club. She was a graduate of AJCHS class of 1931. She was born April 9, 1912, in Union County to Jefferson and Susie (Fitzgerald) Hankla. She married Charles Newton "Newt" Cantrell April 9, 1946, and he preceded her in death Nov. 18, 1980. She is survived by one daughter, Sue Ann (Bill) DePriest of Wildwood, Mo.; one grandson, Bryan David DePriest and fiancées, Abby Baden; and nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, D.L. "Hank" Hankla.

Gilbert Harrell Knupp 1912 2008, A-J 1931 Class, Army Veteran of WWll Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

ANNA - Gilbert Harrell Knupp, 95, died at 11:09 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, in Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born April 21, 1912, in Anna, the youngest son of John J. and Bertha Wiggs Knupp. He married Nellie Louise Wilkins on Aug. 26, 1948, in Cobden. She survives. Gilbert graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in 1931 and was employed by the Kroger Company for 20 years. He was inducted in the U.S. Army on March 20, 1941, and was discharged on Sept. 25, 1945. He served in the Campaigns of Luzon, Southern Phillipines and Guadalcanal. He owned and operated Knupp's Food Center, which was located north of Anna, for three years. He was employed by the State of Illinois as a Supervising Meat Inspector for Southern Illinois. After retiring from State service, he served as a Director for The First National Bank of Jonesboro from 1981 to 2003. Gilbert was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. He was a life member of the Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 of the VFW in Anna, and was Post Commander from 1954 to 1955. He was a 50-year member of the Jonesboro Masonic No. 111, A.F. and A.M. He was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Lodge Council Consistory, Valley of Southern Illinois in Belleville; a member of AINAD Temple, AAONMS of East St. Louis; and a member of Oasis Shrine Club of Anna-Jonesboro. Gilbert is survived by his wife, Nellie Louise Knupp; nephews, Ronald Knupp, Steven Knupp, Robert Knupp, Dr. Harold Franklin Wilkins, Dr. Charles Joseph Wilkins, Charles Joseph Wilkins Jr., Attorney Homer Wesley Wilkins, Jonathan Wilkins, Dirk Wilkins and Scott E. Wilkins; nieces, Sue Wilkins, Sandra Wilkins Bullock and Taylor Wilkins; a cousin, Mary Ann Peter of St. Louis; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Owen Knupp and Harvey Knupp. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, in Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. Clifford Heil officiating. Interment will be in Anna City Cemetery with military honors at the grave by Carroll P. Foster No. 3455 of the VFW in Anna. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Masonic services will be at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home by the Jonesboro Masonic Lodge No. 111 AF and AM. Published in The Southern Illinoisan from 2/5/2008.


PictureDavid R Sitter 1912 2002, 1931 A-J Classmate, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

David Sitter of Elgin Funeral services for David Sitter, 90 will be held at 11 a.m. Monday,at Wait Ross Allanson Fenderal Home , 51 Center St. Elgin. The Rev. John Stensrud of Immanuel Baptist Church will officiate. Born June 2, 1912, in Anna, Illinois to John and Julia (nee Watkins) Sitter. He died Tuesday, Aug 6, 2002 at Sherman Hospital, Elgin. Burial will be in Lakewood Memorial Park, Elgin. Mr. Sitter had been employed as a machinist, retiring from Flexonics at Bartlett. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church , Elgin. David is survived by his wife Wilma (nee Adams) to whom he had been married for 68 years; son Michael of Elgin, daughters, Donna Faber of Rockford, Evelyn Jackson, of South Elgin and Robyn and husband Jay Ferraro, of Rockford, 14 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and three sisters. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today, at the funeral chapel. Frends my visit www.dailyherald.com obits to express condolences and sign the guest book. For more funeral information. 847-742-2100 Published in The Chicago Suburan Daily Hearald from August 9 to August 11, 2002

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Last Updated on 07/14/2019