Donald Bennett 1935 2010 A J 1953 Classmate, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friend.

Donald Bennett passed away Sept.12th 2010. Mr. Bennett was born April 27, 1935 in Cobden, IL. He graduated from Anna-Jonesboro High School in 1953, and entered the U.S. Navy in October of that year. During his 22 year career he served in various units of the Navy, concluding with a tour of duty at the Naval Aviation Integrated Logistics Center (NAILSC) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. He retired from active duty in 1975 as a Chief Aviation Electronics Technician, and he and his wife continued to make their home in Great Mills, MD. Following his military retirement, Mr. Bennett graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He then worked for several contractor firms in support of Navy programs until his full retirement in 1996. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude Everett and Anna Foster Bennett, a son, David "Scott" Bennett, two brothers, Henry and Allen Bennett. Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife, Clara "Sandy" Bennett of Waynesboro; his daughter Donna Wagner (Jim) of California, MD; four grandchildren, Valerie Amadio, James Shaw, Joshua Bennett, and Melissa Bennett; and three great-grandchildren, Marissa, Anthony, and Michael Amadio. He is also survived by two sisters, Helen Holderfield of Alto Pass, IL, and Sherry Sloan of Anna, IL.; and one brother, Gary Bennett of Makanda, IL. Following retirement Mr. Bennett and his wife relocated in Staunton, VA for a brief time before settling in Waynesboro in December of 1999. Mr. Bennett's primary source of joy was spending time with his wife and family. In addition, he enjoyed working in his yard and garden, and he spent many evenings carving small figurines from a variety of uncommon and exotic woods. Visitation for Mr. Bennett will be held at the Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, 618 W. Main Street, Waynesboro on Thursday, September 16, 2010 from 2:30-4:00 pm, followed by a prayer service at 4:00 pm by Dr. Cynthia Long. Inurnment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, at a later date will full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations and memorials be made to the Lutheran Family Services for Grief Counseling, 500 S. Wayne Ave., Waynesboro, VA; the Neuropathy Association, 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 942, New York, NY 10165-0999; or the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, 22100 Gratiot Avenue, East Detroit, MI 48021-2227. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes and Crematory. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book and send condolences at www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com

George W Harvel 1935 2012, A-J 1953 Class. Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Concrete Finisher Mr. George W. Harvel, age 76 of Jonesboro, died at 11:30 am Sunday, August 12, 2012 in Vincennes, IN. He was born September 12, 1935 in Mill Creek, the son of George William and Genie (Hileman) Harvel. He married June Penninger on January 7, 1955 in Anna. She preceded him in death on August 1, 2011. George is survived by one son, Michael (Patty) Harvel of Anna; one daughter, Genie "Beth" Harvel of Jonesboro; six grandchildren, Clint (Stephanie) Harvel, Ashley (Ben) Daniels, Rachel Harvel, Taylor Harvel, Corlis Burris, Zachary Burris, three great grandchildren, Aiden Harvel, Jett Harvel and June Daniels; one sister, Bernette Cerney of Anna; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, June Harvel; one son, Stevie Harvel; and infant sister, Margie Irene. George was a member of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jonesboro. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. George was a member of the Jonesboro Masonic Lodge #111. Throughout his life George worked as a concrete finisher; was employed at Menard Correctional Center in Chester and the Memorial Hospital of Chester. Funeral services for Mr. George W. Harvel will be at 1:00 pm Friday, August 17, 2012 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro with Pastor David Eidson officiating. Interment will be in the St. John's Cemetery in Dongola. Friends may call after 10:00 am until the funeral hour at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Masonic services will be conducted Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 2:13 pm.
PAST NEW HOME George was passionate about saving his and June home at 102 S. Main St. in Jonesboro and took such good care of it. The PAST organization purchased the Harvel residence at 102 S. Main St. in Jonesboro for it New Home. PAST works to promote Union County's rich heritage and architectural treasures. PAST president Linda Hileman said the structure dates to around 1850. Hileman said that PAST plans to develop a Lincoln-Douglas information center at its new home. She said that PAST also hopes to develop the site as a center for research into local history and genealogy. They hopes to have the local genealogy books and copies of any Union Co. genealogies they can find. They have been collecting for about 20 years, so will be nice to be able to share with the community. It will be awhile before They get organized and even have a plan for policies, hours, etc.

Jon E. Loomis 1936 2005, A-J 1953 Class, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Don Murphy, A-J 1953 Class. Information furnished by Jim Davis A-J Classmate and Friends.

Don Murphy passed away. No other information.

Charles Edwin Peters 1953, A-J 1953 Class. Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friend.

Charles Edwin Peters, 69, of Benton, formerly of Anna, Illinois, died Sunday, July 10, 2005, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He was born January 13, 1936, in Balcom, Illinois, son of Henry T. and Laura Rudert Peters. He and Sue Ann Jobe were married September 22, 1960, in Stryker, Ohio. Peters was a member of the United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 280 at Benton. He served in the U.S. Army. Survivors include his wife; five sons, Mark Peters of Lake Jackson, Texas, David Peters of Aspen, Colo., John Peters of Springfield, Ill., James and Stephen Peters of Denver, Colo.; a brother, Raymond Peters of Key West, Fla.; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna after 6 p.m. Wednesday, and from noon to service time Thursday at Salem Lutheran Church in Jonesboro, Ill. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the church, with David Eidson officiating. Burial will be in Anna City Cemetery. Charles Edwin Peters attended with the Anna Jonesboro Community High Class of 1953.

"Bob" Robert Gene Pitts 1935 1989, A-J 1953 Class, Professional Baseball Player Information furnished by Beverly Sams Pitts, Paul Boyer, Fred Elkins and Don Lemaster, A-J Classmate and Friends.

Robert "Bob" Gene Pitts, the son of Lynn and Esther Oliver Pitts attended Davie Grade School and Anna Jonesboro Community High School and graduated with the Class of 1953. He was very active in sports in Anna Junior High and A-J High school. He played football, basketball and baseball in High school. Bob was 6' 1" but played much bigger on the basketball court and most people though he was the center on the 1953 team because he was not out jump on jump balls. Fred Elkins was the center on the very good 1953 A-J Basketball team. Pitts attended Southern Illinois University where he played football and made the basketball team his freshmen year but before he played any basketball for S I U he sign with the St. Louis Cardinals to play baseball. Bob would tell people that said how great a player he was "That the rest of his team mates made he look good." Pitts played on the Cardinals class D teams in 1954, Daytona Beach Islanders, 1954 and 1955 Paducah Chiefs farm teams. Bob Pitts and Beverly Sams were married January 29, 1955 in Corinth, Mississippi. The young couple then moved to California where Bob played baseball on the Cardinals class C, 1956 and 1957 Mexicali Eagles Cardinals farm teams. He also played on for the Dogers baseball team but he gave up baseball to spend more time with his wife and daughter after baseball season, when his young daughter did not know when him when he came home at the end of baseball season. Bob was very good golfer and made himself a special golf club to hit the ball a great distance. At the time of his death his brothers; Jack,and wife Barbara Clutts Pitts and "Dick" Richard and Charlene Dover Pitts lived in Anna, Illinois; brother "Bill" William O Pitts and wife lived in Junction City, Kansas, sisters; Pitts and wife Charlene Dover Pitts, all lived in Anna, Illinois, sister Linda Pitts Coffee and husband John lived in Mississippi, Doni Pitts Helstowski and her husband John lived in California; and he had many other relatives and friends in living in Anna-Jonesboro area. Mr Pitts was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters.
Obituary
Bob G, Pitts of Hawthorne, Calif., and formerly of Anna, died Juy 26, 1989 at 2:20 p.m. Centinela Hospital in Inglewood Calif. Mr. Pitts was born March 30, 1635, in rural Anna, the son of Lynn and Esther Oliver Pitts. He married Beverly Sams Jan. 29, 1955, in Corinth, Miss. Survivors include his wife, Beverly of Hawthorne, Calif.; two daughters, Susan of Salt Lake, Utah, and Nancy of Santa Barbara, Calif.; two grandchildren, Aimee and Mark Jr.; his mother Esther Pitts; three brothers, Jack, William 'Bill" and Richard; two sisters; Linda and Donna; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were at 9 a. m. Saturday, July 29, at Green Hills Memorial Park in Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Published: The Gazette-Democrat August 3, 1989.

Jack Lee Pitts 1933 2001, A-J 1953 Class. Veteran Korean War Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Jack Lee Pitts, 68, of Anna, died at 9:12 p.m. Saturday, November 17, 2001, on arrival at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born at his grandmother Oliver home at 621 East High Street on July 13, 1933, in Anna, Illinois, the son of Lynn and Esther Elizabeth Oliver Pitts. He married Barbara Clutts March 16, 1956, in Anna, Illinois. He is survived by his wife Barbara of Anna; three sons and two daughters-in-law Ed and Cathy Pitts of Cobden, Jack "Bud" Pitts of Jonesboro and Bob and Marcia Pitts of Jonesboro; one daughter and son-in-law Tina and Brent Boyd of Jonesboro; one brother and sister-in-law Dick and Charlene Pitts of Anna; two sisters and brothers-in-law Linda and John Coffey of Petal, Mississippi and Donna and John Helstikowski of Escondido, California; seven grandchildren; nieces and nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bob and Bill Pitts and two sisters, Shirley and Sandra. Jacked stared working at Bunny Bread Bakery in Anna, Illinois while he was still in High School and worked there for 41 years. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of Bakery and Confectionery Union International and a life member of Anna VFW Post No. 3455. He was a member of Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, class of 1953 were he was an outstanding athlete, excelling in several sports. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 20, 2001 at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna with Rev. Clifton Lingle officiating. Interment with full military honors by Anna VFW Post No. 3455 will be in the Kelley Cemetery east of Cobden. Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna from 6-8 p.m. today, Monday, November 19, 2001. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of the arrangements. He attended Davie Grade School and Anna Junior High where he set a rerecords scoring 35 points in an 8 grade game. Jack Pitts had to do some extra credit project the summer before his senior year but was ineligible for football so he quit school and joined the Army in 1952 before his senior year at A-J.

Marilyn Kay Willis, A-J 1953 Class. Information furnished by Jane Lee Bauer Rayburn, A-J Classmate and Friends.

Marilyn Kay Willis is deceased. Don't remember her married name. She and her family were all killed in a plane crash ( except for one daughter that lives in texas I believe) killed in a plane crash there in airport between Marion and Carbondale Illinois. Her husband was flying a private plane and bad weather hit them and down they went. Her parents were waiting at the airport for their arrival when the plane went down killing all aborad. I don't remember the date of all that but it has been many years ago.