Remembering Departed Members of Anna-Jonesboro High School, Class of 1937

Kenneth Wayne Dodd, 1919-2011 A-J 1937 Class, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Kenneth Wayne Dodd, 92, died at 10:25 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, in the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna. He was born Sept. 4, 1919, in Jonesboro, the son of Addison B. and Ethel (Rushing) Dodd. Kenneth went through the Jonesboro grade school and on to Anna-Jonesboro High School, graduating in 1937. After graduating from high school, he attended Southeast Missouri University in Cape Girardeau. In his last two years of school, he got his pilot's wings and license before graduating in one of the first college Air Force training programs. When Kenneth finished college, he was in the Air Force and attended Michigan State University for more advanced training. He was then sent to Santa, Calif., to the Army Air Force Base. He advanced from Palma, Calif., to Taft, Calif., where he completed the last of his training in single engine air planes. He continued to Marfa, Texas, where he received a new set of wings for double engine airplanes. Kenneth trained in C-47s in Syracuse, N.Y., and Louisville, Ky. Kenneth's four squadrons flew 100 planes across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa, and then on to India, where he was attached to the British Army in Burma. He flew bringing supplies and troops to Afghanistan, the Burma Road, Mandalay and China. He received the Air Medal with four stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Theatre Ribbon with three battle stars and complimentary Chinese air wings. Kenneth had many difficult and dangerous weather experiences as he flew over both the Himalayan Mountains and the jungles entrenched with Japanese forces. In 1945, after he was discharged, he started working for the Illinois Department of Conservation, setting up the first controlled grass shooting area in the bottoms. Later, he was employed by Olin-Matheson as a Midwest representative of their gun products. Kenneth set up controlled hunting in five midwestern states. Kenneth was also interested in horses, and he got into the harness horses business, raising, training and driving them for many years. He and his wife, Diana, traveled throughout much of the United States and saw many beautiful and historical places. Kenneth is survived by a sister-in-law, Betty Dodd; nieces, nephews and their families; and his many friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Diana; brothers, Lewis, Enos, Byron and Paul; and his sister, Ruth Evelyn Dodd. Services for Mr. Kenneth W. Dodd will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at the Jonesboro Cemetery, with the Rev. Joe Aldridge officiating. Burial will be in the Jonesboro Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Illinois National Guard Funeral Honors Team of Marion and the Carroll P. Foster Post 3455 of the VFW of Anna. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Illinois Veterans Home of Anna. Envelopes will be available at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro and the Jonesboro Cemetery at the graveside. To view this obituary or to leave an online condolence, go to www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on October 3, 2011

Diana L. Lentz Dodd, 1919-2005 A-J 1937 Class, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Mrs. Diana L. Dodd, 85, of Anna, where she was born, raised and has lived her entire life, died at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005, in Jonesboro Health Care Center. She was born Dec. 17, 1919 in Anna, the daughter of John Frederick and Gladys Spires Lentz. She married Kenneth W. Dodd Oct. 30, 1943 in Santa Ana, Calif. He survives. Diana was educated in Anna and remembered well the old three-story junior high. After graduation from Anna-Jonesboro in 1937, she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale and received her bachelor of science degree in education. She was assistant county superintendent of schools in Union County until 1943. By then Kenneth was in the Army Air Force and she went to Santa Ana to marry him Oct. 30, 1943. For a year they were able to be together and were at five different air bases in the states. When Kenneth went overseas to India and flew to the Hump, Diana started teaching at Dongola High School but came to Anna-Jonesboro after the first year and for eight months. After finishing graduate school and receiving her master of arts, she joined the English staff at SIUC and taught for 28 years. At SIUC she set up a basic skills program for students of English. It eventually merged with a much larger unit, including reading and math. She kept teaching while Kenneth went into driving and training harness horses. Diana loved it too and helped in many ways through the years. Diana had always loved and ridden saddle horses since she was a child and practically knew every road in Union County. In the time since her retirement, she and Kenneth had traveled all over the United States and seen much of this wonderful country. Diana had a very severe heart attack on May 6, 2002, and two more heart surgeries after that, which ultimately led to her death. She leaves behind to cherish her, husband, Kenneth Dodd of Anna; two half sisters, Sarah Lentz Sinclair and Clara Lentz Westmoreland both of Marshall, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Evelyn Dodd of Palm Desert, Calif. and Betty E. Dodd of Anna; also her adored beagle Choteau; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Services for Mrs. Diana L. Dodd will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, in Jonesboro Cemetery, with the Rev. Joe Aldridge, Carol Kroeger, Pat Mueller and friends of Diana o fficiating. Interment will be in the Jonesboro Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to P.A.W.S. of Anna. Envelopes will be available at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home and at the graveside. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Herbert Samuel Mulkey 1919 2011, A-J 1937 Class, Basketball and Track Star, Veteran Marine Corps, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Herbert Samuel Mulkey, 91, died March 7, 2011, at his home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was born May 23, 1919, in Cypress, to Ida and Herbert Samuel Mulkey Sr. He attended Cypress Grade and High School finishing at Anna-Jonesboro High School (Class of 1937). He then attended Southeast Missouri State University (Class of 1942) on a full-ride scholarship for basketball and track. He married Betty Jo Taylor of Vienna on Oct. 9, 1943, in Hollywood, Calif. They had four children, Alan Joyce Mulkey of Apache Junction, Ariz.; Jana (Jimmy) Williams of Grand Rapids, Mich. Ann (David) Farley of Mount Vernon; and Lynn Ellen Mulkey (deceased). Herb's wife, Betty, an infant daughter, his parents, and a sister, Rudell (Woody) Childers preceded him in death. He later married the former Joan Fear of Anna on March 24, 1999, in Hopkinsville, Ky. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his children, Alan (Joyce) Mulkey, Jana (Jimmy) Williams and Ann (David) Farley; grandchildren: Kaitlin (Tom) Stearns of Florissant, Mo.; Kirsten Farley of Mount Vernon; Harry (Crystal) Mulkey of Mount Vernon; Christy Ann, Heather, Danny, and Chrissi Lynn of Arizona; stepchildren: LaDonna Clymore of Anna; Phil (Beth) Goines of Shawneetown; and Tom (Michelle) Goines of Cypress; stepgrandchildren: Kim Clymore of Joilet; Valerie (Andy) Rhymer of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Michael Goines of Cypress; and Heather Goines of Marion; seven stepgreat-grandchildren also survive. His granddaughter, Kaitlin, is expecting his first great-grandchild, a boy, due in July 2011. He was inducted into Southeast Missouri State University Hall of Fame in October 2003 for his outstanding track and basketball achievements. He qualified for the Olympics in 1942, but was denied the chance because of World War II. He held the high jump record of 6-feet-6 1/2-inches with the "Western Roll" technique at SEMO for the next 20 years until the technique was changed nationwide. He entered the Navy on active duty Sept. 3, 1942, and received his Flight Wings from the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla. After being discharged from the Navy on July 8, 1943, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps as second Lieutenant on July 9, 1943, and was a fighter pilot in World War II. He flew the SPD-5 Dauntless Dive Bomber. On March 10, 1945, he was shot down in the Pacific Ocean, and he and his gunner spent nine and a half hours in a life raft at sea before being rescued. Herb was sent to a naval hospital in the Philippine Islands to recover. He was later discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps on May 1, 1946. Herb taught school and coached football, basketball and track at Arthur High School in Arthur. He later sold insurance for Prudential Insurance Company. Along with his wife, Betty, he owned and managed a restaurant, Mulkey's, on Broadway in Cape Girardeau in 1947. His janitorial sales career started with Churchill Company in 1956. In 1972, he became co-owner of Chemical Maintenance Inc. Later in 1976, he started and owned Southern Chemical Company in Mount Vernon. He sold his company in 1986 and was still working part-time for the company up until his death. He was a member of the American Legion AMVETS, VFW Post 3838 of Cape Girardeau, and was a lifetime member of Arthur Masonic Lodge No. 825 in Arthur. In 1970, he was instrumental in annexing the Summersville community into the city of Mount Vernon. Herb was a highly respected, courageous and compassionate individual. His love of life and pride for his family will never be forgotten. He will be dearly missed. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak, is in charge of funeral arrangements. A private family visitation will be at the funeral home Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 10 a.m. A graveside service is being held at his request at the Masonic Cemetery in Cypress. Graveside military rights will be inducted. All friends wishing to attend the graveside service should arrive by 11 a.m. Thursday March 10, 2011, with the Rev. Steve Heisner officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Southeast Missouri State University Athletic Booster Club, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau MO 63701; the American Heart Association , Midwest Affiliate, Memorial and Tributes Program, Dept. 77-3968, Chicago, Il 60678-3968; the American Diabetes Association , 9440 Manchester Road 104, St. Louis, MO 63119; or the National Kidney Foundation, 215 West Illinois, Suite 1C, Chicago, IL 60610. Any questions should be directed to the Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak IL at 618-634-2241. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on March 9, 2011

Meta Karen Meyer Cozby, 1920-2009, A-J 1937 Class, Music Teacher Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Meta Karen Cozby, 88, passed from her earthly life Monday, July 27, 2009, in Union County Hospital in Anna in the presence of loving family. She was born Aug. 26, 1920, in York, Neb., to the Rev. Clark S. Powell and May Meyer. On July 18, 1942, she married Harold "Bing" David Cozby, who preceded her in death Oct. 8, 1996. She graduated from Anna-Jonesboro High School in 1937 and attended Carthage College. After the death of the father in 1940, she returned home to Jonesboro and taught school in Mounds. Following her husband's discharge from the Army at the end of World War II, they moved to Batesville, Ind., where their two sons were born. She taught school briefly in Napoleon, Ind., before moving back to Jonesboro in 1956, where they lived the rest of her lives. At the age of 42, she received her bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University. She taught music at Tamms High School from 1956 to 1958 and in Shawnee School District in Union County from 1959 until her retirement in 1982. God gave her the gift and love of musical talent and she freely gave of that talent as organist, choir director and Sunday school teacher/leader for nearly 40 years at Salem Lutheran Church in Jonesboro. For many years, she gave private piano and vocal lessons to both youth and adults, some of who continued on as professional musicians and volunteer church musicians. The only things greater than her love of music were her love of family and faith in God. After enjoying many years of family camping trips while the boys were young, she continued her love for travel after her and her husband's retirements, visiting friends around the U.S. as well as travel abroad. In her later years, she became an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and was in attendance for Mark McGwire's 62nd home run in 1998. She is survived by sons, David (Gretchen) Cozby of Jonesboro and George (Judy) Cozby of Jackson, Mo.; sister, Kathern (Bud) Newton of Jonesboro; brother, Charles (Edith) Powell of Fish, Wis.; grandchildren, Mary Cozby of Tucson, Ariz., Nick (Mandy) Cozby, of Pacific, Mo., Gretchen (Mitch) Bennett of Ewing, Katie Cozby of Cape Girardeau; step grandchildren, Kevin (Beth) Werner, of Jackson, Darin (Tammy) Werner of Jackson; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Bennett, Lily Cozby; stepgreat-grandchildren, Lori Werner, Macie Werner, Ashley Werner and Brent Werner. Meta was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; parents; and stepgreat-grandchild, Dylan Werner. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2009, at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2009, in Salem Lutheran Church in Jonesboro, with Pastor David Eidson officiating. Burial will be in Jonesboro City cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Salem Lutheran Church Organ Fund. Envelopes will be available at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

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