Remembering Departed Members of Anna-Jonesboro High School, Class of 1940

Mike Alcorn 1921 2005, A-J 1940 Class, Teacher-Coach Jonesboro Grade and A J C H S Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Mike Alcorn, 83, of Anna died Saturday, February 12, 2005, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born July 22, 1921, in Murphysboro, Ill., son of Glenn and Beulah Mildred Ferrell Alcorn. He was a member of First Christian Church of Anna, where he had served as deacon. Mr. Alcorn was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the 17th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron; He was a life member of VFW' Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 in Anna. He was a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mr. Alcorn taught for 25 years year at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, where he was a football coach and driving instructor. He was a member of the Alexander-Pulaski-Union Retired Teachers Association. After retirement, he became active in the Sunshine Inn senior center in Anna, where he served on the advisory council. He was involved for many years with the laymen's breakfast held in Anna. He is survivors include a cousin, Denton Ferrell of Eldorado; his church family, especially Alene McCommons and Mary Frances Sheeley; friends at the Illinois Veteran Home in Anna, where he had resided the past several years; as well as many friend and former students in the community. Funeral services for Mike Alcorn were at 10 a.m. Tuesday February 15, at Crain Funeral Home in Anna with Dee Armes, minister of First Christian Church in Anna, officiating. Interment followed in the Anna Cemetery, with military honors conducted by Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455. Memorial can be make to First Christian Church in Anna or to the Illinois Veteran's Home. Crain Funeral Home in Anna was in charge of arrangements. Mike graduated with the Anna Jonesboro Community High School Class of 1940. He was active in A-J sports playing football. Mr. Alcorn coach and taught at Jonesboro Grade School be before moving on to A-J to teach and coach.

Clyde Lee Choate 1920 2001, A-J 1940 Class, Veteran of World War II, Illinois legislature from 1947 to 1977 Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Clyde Lee Choate, 81, of Anna died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Ill. He was born June 28, 1920, at West Frankfort, Ill., son of James I and Grace Ellen Brown Choate. He and Madonna Ross were married May 10, 1947, at Carbondale. Clyde was a veteran of World War II, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, life member of the Anna VFW Post 3455, member of the Anna American Legion Post 344, member of the Anna Elks Lodge No. 1641, member of the Anna Masonic Lodge 520, member of the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion and member of the Illinois Veterans Commission. He was also a member of the Illinois legislature from 1947 to 1977, where he served as minority and majority leader. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Illinois in 1972 and director of external affairs at SIU-Carbondale. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Elizabeth Ellen Wood of Carbondale and Kim Hughey of Anna; three sisters, Creta Yates of Jonesboro, Dortha Ballance of Anna and Ethel Marie Marlow of Bradenton, Fla.; a brother, Thomas E. Adams of Anna; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters, Ruth Irvin, Florence Craft, Gladys Lawrence, Ivern Fuller and Mary Angelo; and two brothers Melvin and Orean Choate. Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna after 5 p.m. Wednesday and at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Anna after 10 a.m. Thursday. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The Rev. John Marlow will officiate, with burial in Anna City Cemetery. Clyde Lee Choate graduated with the Anna Jonesboro Community High School Class of 1940.

Dorothy A. DeMond Wiedlocher, 1922-2008, A-J class 40, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

ANNA - Dorothy A. Wiedlocher, 86, of Marble Hill, Mo., formerly of Anna, died at 7:10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, at her daughter's home in Marble Hill. She was born March 28, 1922, in Washington Park to Marion and Nellie Mathias DeMond. Mrs. Wiedlocher was a homemaker and a wonderful mother. She was a former member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anna. She attended Anna-Jonesboro Community High School until her senior year, graduating from Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield in 1940. She married Carl Wiedlocher Jr. on Sept. 4, 1940; he preceded her in death July 9, 1999. She is survived by seven children. Carl Wiedlocher III of Las Cruces, NM; Sharon Kopp of St. Pete Beach, Fla; Penny Ottesen of Marble Hill, Mo; Frank Wiedlocher of Jefferson City, Mo; Regina Wiedlocher of Henderson, Nev; George Wiedlocher of Lebanon, Tenn; one brother, Charles DeMond of Belleville; 17 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Angie; a son, Christopher; & six brothers & sisters. Visitation will be from 5-7pm, Friday, Nov 14 2008 @ Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, in Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with Michael Butler officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Cobden.

Walter Adolph W III 1922 2012, A-J 1940 Class, Veteran Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Adolph W. Walter III, age 89, of Anna, died at 11:45AM, Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Adolph was born October 9, 1922 in Anna, Illinois to Adolph William Walter Jr. and Fannie Myrle Stallsmith Walter. He was baptized by the Methodist minister in 1922 and became a member of the Anna Methodist Church in 1934. He married Peggy Nimmo on August 23, 1945. He attended the Anna City Schools, graduating from A-JCHS in the class of '40 and graduated from the University of Illinois-Urbana in August of 1943 having earned a B.S. in Geology. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Soon after Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Army Specialized Training Program. Upon graduation from university, he attained the rank of sergeant and was sent to the Anti-aircraft Artillery School at Camp Davis, NC. From there he was transferred to the 20th Armored Division at Camp Campbell, KY as the Liaison Sergeant for the 412th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. After his discharge in 1946, Adolph and Peggy settled in Anna, Illinois where Adolph joined his father operating Walter Hardware. He served as president of the Anna-Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce during the 1954 Centennial celebration. He served on the District 81 school board, and was president during the last of his three terms. Additionally, Adolph was a chairman of the board for the United Methodist Church on several occasions. He was president of the 20th Armored Division Association 2002-2003. He was a member of Anna Masonic Lodge #520 and the Scottish Rite of Mississippi Valley Consistency and Ainad Shrine. He is second oldest member of American Legion Post 344 in Anna. In 1965, he and Peggy joined forces with Col. Harland Sanders, operating KFC stores in Carbondale, Anna, and Murphysboro for over 20 years. During his years with KFC, he served as president of the Tri-State Advertising KFC Co-Op. He leaves Peggy, his wife of 67 years; his daughters, Barbara W. Jahn and Marsha Walter; and his son, Adolph IV (Pat). He also leaves Barbara's son, Jeremiah Jahn and his geat-grandson, Phoenix, as well as Adolph IV's wife, Lisa, and his grandchildren Kaitlin and Andrew Walter, a sister Myrle Holt, her son Dr. William Holt and family as well as the family of his deceased nephew, Dr. J.P. Holt Jr. His sister, Marjorie Smith preceded him in death and leaves her daughter Deborah Fitzgerald and family, as well as his nephew James A. Smith and family. Memorial services for Adolph W. Walter III were held at 4:00 PM, Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at Anna United Methodist Church. Private interment will take place in the Anna City Cemetery at a later date. Crain Funeral Home Anna-Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions can be made to the Walter Scholarship Fund or to Disabled American Veterans and will be accepted at the church or funeral home. To leave online condolences, please visit www.crainsonline.com Published: The Gazette-Democrat Posted: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 9:28 am | Updated: 9:31 am, Wed Jul 11, 2012.

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Last Updated on 07/14/2019