Remembering Departed Members of Anna-Jonesboro High School, Class of 1933

Betty Richardson Rich, 1916 2008, A-J 1933 Class, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

ANNA - Betty Richardson Rich, 92, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, in Austin, Texas. She was born in Union County on Jan. 10, 1916, to Leon Gambetta and Ethel (Davis) Richardson. She attended school in Anna and graduated with the class of 1933 from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.She married James Woodrow Rich on Sept. 20, 1936, and they had one son, James Robert Rich. Betty lived most of her life in Anna. She moved to Austin, Texas, in the late 1990s to be close to her family, but she never lost her love for beautiful Southern Illinois. She was preceded in death by her husband, son, and three sisters, Jane R. Doyle, Eleanor R. Huggins and Christine R. Roe. She is survived by one sister, Mary R. Patton of Pharr, Texas; four grandchildren, Angela J. Rich and Ernest Scott Rich, both of Austin, Adam S. Rich of Round Rock, Texas, and Kelle R. Rich of Anna; seven great-grandchildren, Ryan Rich, Ian Rich, Kathryn Rich, Zachary Rich, Thomas Rich, Titus Rich and Tristan Belcher; three nephews, George Huggins of Sparrows Point, Md., Mike Huggins of Savage, Minn., and Dan Crunk of Walnut Hills; one daughter-in-law and special friend, Charlotte J. Carter of Austin. Betty was a lifelong member of Mount Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna and a choir member for many years. She was a retired state of Illinois employee. She was a member of Delta Theta Tau, a philanthropic sorority. An avid golfer, she was a long-time member of the Union County Country Club. She was also an avid bridge player. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, in Anna City Cemetery, with the Rev. Dr. Richard Hertenstein officiating. Interment will be in Anna City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Mount Moriah Lutheran Church. Envelopes will be available at the Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of the arrangements. Published in The Southern Illinoisan from 8/29/2008 - 8/30/2008

Nellie Wilkins Knupp, 1915 2011, A-J 1933 Class, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Nellie Wilkins Knupp, 96, died at 3:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, in Union County Nursing Home in Anna. Nellie was born Feb. 20, 1915, on her family's farm east of Anna as the youngest of nine children born to Benjamin Franklin Wilkins and Nellie Marie Hileman Wilkins. She was united in marriage to Gilbert H. Knupp on Aug. 26, 1948, in Cobden. He preceded her in death Feb. 3, 2008. Nellie graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in 1933, and worked as a secretary and tax collector in Union County Sheriff's office when her brothers, first Harley and then Roy, served as Union County Sheriff. Known as a meticulous bookkeeper, she later worked for many years as an office administrator, secretary for Illinois Department of Agriculture at the Fruit Inspection Division office in Anna, from which she retired. At the time of her death, Nellie was the oldest living member of First Baptist Church of Cobden, having joined the church in February 1930. She was also a longtime member of Ladies Auxiliary of Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 in Anna. Survivors include nephews, John Harley Wilkins of Muncie, Ind., Harold Franklin Wilkins of Baldwin, Wis., Charles Joseph Wilkins of Pleasant Plains and Homer Wesley Wilkins of Cobden; as well as nieces, Sue Wilkins of Anna and Sandra Bullock of Baker, La.; her great nephew, Scott Wilkins of Anna; and several other great-nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant sister, Ethel Mae Wilkins; and her brothers, Harley Wilkins, Charles Wilkins, Roy Wilkins, Dr. George T. Wilkins Sr., Frank Wilkins, Carl Wilkins, Lawrence "Barney" Wilkins and Homer W. Wilkins. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna with the Rev. Clifford Heil officiating. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home and may be made to Union County Nursing Home, long-term care unit and TIP Hospice. The family wishes to express the staff's outstanding care and service to their Aunt Nellie during her final days will forever be appreciated. For more information, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan from November 8 to November 10, 2011. Published: The Gazette-Democrat August 3, 1989

Home Page


Last Updated on 07/14/2019