Obituaries
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RANKIN, Robert B. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, February 25, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Robert Rankin, 1917-2007, Beardstown
   Robert B. Rankin, 89, of Beardstown, died Saturday morning, Feb. 24, 2007, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown.
   He was born Aug. 14, 1917, in Virden, the son of Arthur and Ida Ward Rankin. He married Mary Jean Bowsher on Dec. 21, 1941, and she preceded him in death in December 1952. He later married Anna Heyworth on Oct. 8, 1955, and she survives.
   He is also survived by two sons, Robert (wife, Harriet) of Beardstown and Richard (wife, Beth) of Bella Vista, Ark.; one stepson, William Heyworth of Springfield; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one brother, Russell (wife, Millie) of La Crosse, Wis.; one sister, Margaret Fite of Green Valley, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Allen and William.
   Mr. Rankin graduated from Virden High School in the class of 1935 and completed a correspondence course in general business from Alexander Hamilton Institute in New York City. In July 1935, he began his employment with Central Illinois Public Service Company as a meter reader in Virden. From July 1941 until October 1945 he served in the U.S. Army in the 42nd Engineers Construction Battalion. He assisted in building radar stations in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Upon his discharge, he returned to Virden and continued working for CIPS. In October 1956, he was transferred to Pittsfield, and in 1962 he became the District Superintendent for CIPS in Beardstown. From 1973 until 1978, he served as District Superintendent in Quincy and then returned to Beardstown where he continued his service until his retirement in 1982. He was employed a total of 47 years with CIPS. He was a member of Virden Masonic Lodge and he also served in the Girard Masonic Lodge. His community involvement included Virden City Council; Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce and Lion's Club; Saukee Area Council of Boy Scouts of America; Beardstown Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and United Way; Cass County Board of Supervisors and Cass County Draft Board. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Beardstown.
   Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday at First Congregational Church in Beardstown. Cremation rites will be accorded. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at Virden City Cemetery. The family will meet friends one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church. Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to First Congregational Church in Beardstown or Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice. Condolences may be sent to [email protected].

RATLIFF, George W. - Buchanan Funeral Home website
George W. Ratliff, 77, of Oakford, IL and formerly of Virginia, IL died Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at his residence.
   He was born August 19, 1939 in Murrayville, the son of Claude and Myrtle Bunch Ratliff. He married Mary Ann Barrett on August 24, 1958 in Virginia and she preceded him in death on March 1, 2002.
   He is survived by three children, John Ratliff (wife, Abby) of Virginia, Mark Ratliff (wife, Margarita) of Ottumwa, IA, and Georgia Ratliff of Jacksonville; his companion, Shirley Jones of Oakford; 13 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; five siblings, Margaret Currier and Stella Lomelino (companion, Larry Vieira), all of Jacksonville, and Mary Lomelino, Donny Ratliff (wife, Joyce), and Scott Ratliff, all of Murrayville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
   He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Ed Ratliff and his wife, Susan; and nine siblings, Tommy Joe and Charles Ratliff, Leroy Bunch, Betty Hughes, Harriett Henson, Annie Snodgrass, Rosie Perkins, Lulabelle Lackscheide, and in infancy, Norma Jean Ratliff.
   George farmed in the Cass and Morgan County area for many years as a farmhand for the Leonhard Farms, Leland Sweatman, David Petefish, and Jeff Knight. He was also known for his work with well maintenance. He enjoyed hunting, country music, professional wrestling, and spending time with his family.
   Funeral services will be held 11:00 am, Friday, September 9, 2016, at the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Virginia with burial at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia. The family will meet friends at the funeral home from 10:00 am Friday until the time of services. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Cass County Food Pantry. Condolences may be sent online at www.buchanancody.com

RATLIFF, William E. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, January 28, 2008 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
William E. Ratliff, 1932-2008, Ashland
   William E. Ratliff, 75, of Ashland, Illinois died Sunday morning, Jan. 27, 2008, at his residence.
   He was born April 25, 1932, in Ashland, the son of Carl A. and Inez M. Geuder Ratliff. He married Lorene Beard on Nov. 29, 1953, in Pleasant Plains, Illinois, and she survives.
   He is also survived by four sons, William J. (wife, Keri), Larry (wife, Anna), Ronnie (wife, Angie) and Michael (wife, Jennifer), all of Ashland; four daughters, Rita (husband, Tom) Devlin, Vicky (husband, Dwayne) Farmer, Linda (husband, John) Ring, and Ann (husband, Billy) Carter, all of Ashland; 19 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one sister, Margaret Mentgen of Pennsylvania; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Pete (surviving wife, Virginia of Winchester) and Rich (surviving spouse, Gerry (current husband, Ed Bruce of Moline); three sisters, Eula Mae Winner, Helen Yancy and Mildred Woodrum.
   Mr. Ratliff worked at Standard Concrete Pipe of Springfield for 20 years, before becoming a union carpenter through Local 16 in Springfield, retiring in 1994. He then worked as a school bus driver for the A-C Central School district until his health began to fail. He attended the Church of Christ in Ashland and loved to fish and camp in his spare time.
   Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home of Ashland, with burial in the Ashland City Cemetery. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, where the family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the family. Condolences may be left at www.buchanancody.com.

RAWLINS, Melvin Edward - Cass County Star-Gazette, November 4, 2010 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Melvin Edward Rawlins July 3, 1921-October 30, 2010
   Melvin Edward Rawlins, 89, of Beardstown, died Saturday, October 30, in his home.
   He was born July 3, 1921 in Cass County, the son of Olin T. and Etta Dyche Rawlins. He married Edna Regene Dietsch on May 6, 1943 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beardstown.
   Surviving is his wife, Edan Regene Rawlins of Beardstown; two daughters, Deborah (husband, Thomas) Lael of Bartlesville, Okla. and Teena Rawlins of Springfield; seven grandchildren: Brad Lael of Sacremento, Calif., Kirk Rawlins of Beardstown, Christopher Lael of Springfield, Jeanie Shields of Duvall, Wash., Lori Dour of Virginia, Melissa Rawlins and Ryan Lael both of Beardstown; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one niece; and one nephew.
   He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Richard "Rick" Rawlins (surviving wife, Teresa of Beardstown), one brother, Kenneth W. Rawlins (surviving wife, Nina of Beardstown), and one sister, Doris Looper Knoor.
   Melvin graduated from Beardstown High School in 1941 then served as a pilot and aerial gunnery instructor in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Upon returning to Beardstown he farmed in Cass County until his retirement. Melvin was a member of First Evangelical Church, B.P.O. Elks #1007, Gutherie-Pierce VFW Post #1239, and American Legion Post all in Beardstown. He was a diligent and industrious man who enjoyed working hard, keeping close relationships with his family and friends.
   Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at First Evangelical Church in Beardstown. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Beardstown. The family will meet with friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown.
   Memorials have been suggested to Cass/Schuyler Area Hospice or First Evangelical Church in Beardstown.
   Condolences may be sent to the family via email at [email protected]

RAYBORN, Alice Marie - Airsman-Hires Funeral Home Internet Website
Alice Marie Rayborn, March 24, 1933-September 7, 2011
   Alice Marie Rayborn, 78, of Beardstown died Wednesday, September 7, 2011, in her home. She was born March 24, 1933 in Knox City, MO, the daughter of James and Ruby McFadden Goodson. She married John Edward Rayborn on April 8, 1962 at Concord Methodist Church by Rev. Jean P. Meshew. Surviving is her husband John Rayborn of Beardstown; three children Mary (husband Eric) Kearns of Beardstown, Joseph Allen Rayborn of Beardstown, and Glen Edward Rayborn (companion Denise) of Mt. Sterling; ten grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one brother Nelson (wife Norma) Goodson of GA; and one sister Helen Bond of Springfield, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents and her grandson Wyatt Dalton Rayborn. Alice attended school in Kahoka, MO. She was previously employed with Illinoian Star Newspaper in Beardstown. She enjoyed fishing, reading westerns and harlequin romance novels, and watching and feeding the squirrels in her yard. Funeral services will be held at 1 PM Saturday, September 10, 2011, at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Burial will be in Concord Cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 5 until 7 PM Friday at the funeral home. Memorials have been suggested to Cass/Schuyler Area Hospice. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com

RAYMOND, Geraldine M. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, June 2, 2003 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Geraldine M. Raymond - 1922-2003 - Virginia
   Geraldine M. Raymond, 80, of Virginia, died Saturday evening, May 31, 2003 at Heritage Manor East in Beardstown.
   She was born July 26, 1922 in Payson, the daughter of Ray A. and Elsie Pearl Dixon Copeland. She married Gerald Lee Raymond on June 4, 1940, in Fort Madison, Iowa and he preceded in death April 8, 1985.
   She is survived by one son, Roger Raymond of Bushnell; one daughter, Jean Hager of Virginia; seven grandchildren, Tim Hager of Marathon, Fla., Kim Hays of Bowling Green, Mo., Bruce Raymond of Clayton, Ind., Richard Raymond of Coatesville, In., Lynn Walker of Beardstown, Joanne Pontifex of Macomb, and Catherine Ellis of Plainfield, Ind.; 15 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Gladys Dennis of Petersburg; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by twin grandsons, Christopher and Jeffery Raymond in infancy; one brother, Roy A. Copelan; and one sister, Zelma Shryack.
   Mrs. Raymond was a graduate of Plymouth High School. She moved to Virginia with her husband in 1955 to manage West Food Store on the Virginia square. She and her husband later purchased the store, which became Raymond's Red & White Food Store, where they worked until retirement in 1977. She was a member of the Virginia United Methodist Church and the former Virginia American Legion Post Auxiliary. She enjoyed gardening and harvesting tomatoes and fruit.
   Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday at Massie-Buchanan Funeral Home in Virginia with burial at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia. Friends may call after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home where the family will meet friends from 5-7 p.m. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice or Shriners Hospital for Children. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.buchananfuneralhomes.com.

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