'P' Woodford County Obits
Woodford County, Illinois Genealogy Trails

Ruth J. Petri
Ruth J. Petri, 80, of 512 First St., Minonk, died at 6:15 p.m. Monday (Feb. 6, 2006) at Beulah Land Christian Home, Flanagan.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Minonk. Father Luke Poczworoski will officiate. Burial will be in St. Patrick Catholic Church Cemetery, Minonk. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Friday at the church. Memorials may be directed to any charity of the donor's choice. Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, Minonk is handling arrangements. Ruth was born Dec. 14, 1925, at Flanagan, a daughter of Vernon and Bertha Nellinger Smith. She married Joseph A. Petri on Oct. 12, 1947, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Minonk. He survives. Other survivors include a brother, Glen (Joan) Smith, Flanagan; and a sister, Norma Fox, Boulder, Colo. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Dale Smith. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Minonk, and Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Bloomington. Ruth was previously employed at the Minonk Clothing Factory and Tink Elliott's Restaurant, Minonk. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

Andreas A. Paloumpis
Andreas A. Paloumpis, 80, formerly of Minonk, former president of Hillsborough Community College, passed away Jan. 31, 2006, at his home in Tampa, Fla. At the time of his death, he was vice president of Collegiate Enterprise Solutions LLC.

He served as president of HCC from 1983-1997, going there from Onondaga Community College in New York, where he served as president from 1977-1983. Prior to that, he was founding president of Winston Churchill College and vice president at Illinois Central College. He also served as interim president of Luzerne Community College in Pennsylvania from 2000-2002.

He is survived by his wife, Bess; son, Tom and wife, Jenny Abene Paloumpis, and their children, Andy and Laura; and son, Evan and wife, Linda, and their daughter, Michelle; sister, Presbytera Dr. Mary Hallick of Milwaukee, Wis.; and brother, Hercules Paloumpis of Normal. He was predeceased by his parents, Tom and Sophia Paloumpis, and daughter, Andrea.

He was born in Minonk, earned his undergraduate degrees at the University of Illinois and his doctorate at Iowa State University. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII, taught high school science and became a professor of zoology at Illinois State University in Normal before becoming a college administrator. He served on the board of trustees at Monmouth Community College and played violin in the Bloomington Symphony.

An ichthyologist and avid environmentalist, he was noted expert in the study of fish bones and published numerous papers on the subject. He amassed a large collection of fish bones and skeletons, which he donated to the University of Florida, giving that institution the largest collection in the country. He was a founder of the North American Benthalogical Society and a member of the Hillsborough County River Basin Board.

He was a founding member of the Outback Bowl and the Centre Club. He served on the board of trustees of the Florida Gulf Coast Health Coalition, the Florida Aquarium's board of directors, was a member of various local chambers of commerce, a Mass and a member of the Jesters, president of the board of St. John Orthodox Greek Church, chair of the board of St. John's Day School in Tampa, Fla., and former president of the board of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Peoria.

He was elected to the membership in the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Illinois State University in 2005. The viewing was Sunday at Brewer & Sons Funeral Home at 3328 South Dale Mabry, Tampa. His service was Monday at St. John's Greek Orthodox Church on 2418 Swann Ave., Tampa. Interment was at Myrtle Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dr. Dimitri Halkias, Constantine Contras, James Goodwin II, Jim Jolly, Tom Bougas and Judge Anthony K. Black. Honorary pallbearers are Howard "Hop'' Cassidy and George Russell. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Altar Fund at St. John's Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa.

John Milton Phillips - contributed by Lauri Massey
Dies at Deer Creek
John Milton Phillips, died Monday at Deer Creek, He was born in Guernsey Co. Ohio, Feb. 22, 1829. He was married to Thara Reed on February 8, 1852 at Circleville, Ohio. They came to Illinois in October, 1865 and settled on a farm 2 ¼ miles north-east of Deer Creek, in Woodford County. In 1882 he retired from farming and moved to Deer Creek. His wife died March 14, 1914, and since that time his daughter, Mrs. Mary Skinner of Alvo, Neb., has been living with him. He leaves six son and four daughters.

Albert Palmer
Minonk - Albert Palmer, 92, died Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, at OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac. He was born in 1914 in Van Buren, Ind., the son of Jacob and Eliza Palmer. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ruth, in 1999. Survivors include one daughter, Lois Beach, Minonk; one grandson and two great-granddaughters. Palmer worked for REA Magnet Wire, retiring in 1979. He moved to the state of Illinois in 1986. Services will be today at the International Order of Odd Fellow (IOOF) Cemetery in Dunkirk, Ind.

Orville J. Porth - contributed by Amy Robbins-Tjaden
Orville J. Porth, 68, of 108 N. Darst St died at 8:58 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, 1998 at his daughter's home in Wyoming, Ill.  Born Nov. 16, 1929, in Secor, to Carl and Grace Sloter Porth, he married Mary Lou Arbuckle.  She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Kathleen Bailey of Wyoming; two sons, Michael Aldridge of East Peoria and David Porth of Palestine; four brothers, Frank of Denver, Colo., Kenneth of El Paso, Dale of Escondido, Calif, and Raymond of Secor; and five sister, Viola Moehring of Pekin, Emma Lang of Cross Plains, Tenn., Hildred Harms of Washington, Norma Perry of Plymouth, Calif., and Elaine Colclasure of Roanoke.  He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.  A laborer, he worked out of union Local 996 until he retired.  An Air Force veteran, he was a member of Wyoming American Legion Post 91.

Harold William Pinkham
Harold William Pinkham, 71, Busszille, formerly of El Paso, died Nov. 23, 2006 at his residence in Buzzville. Service: 10 a.m. Sat., Dec. 23 at Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso. Rev. David Estep officiated. Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, El Paso, assisted the family with arrangements. Survivors: four brothers, Robert, El Paso; Richard and Herbert, both of Minonk; and Merle, Washington. Memorials: charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ruestmannharrisfuneralhome.com

Ida Pfaffmann
Ida Pfaffmann, 94, of 512 Valley Court, Eureka, died at 8:27 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3, 2007) at her home. She was born Nov. 27, 1912, in Gridley, a daughter of Jacob and Karoline Messer Schlipf. She married Ernst Pfaffmann on May 23, 1937, in Peoria. He died dec. 26, 1988. Surviving are three sons, Jack (Ruth) Pfaffmann, El Paso; Max (Mary) Pfaffmann, Washington; and Robert (Lily) Pfaffmann, Washington; one daughter, Sandy (Ken) Fehr, Eureka; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and five sisters. She was a member of the Washington Apostolic Christian Church, where her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. Church ministers will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Argo-Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in Eureka and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Apostolic Christian Cemetery in Washington. Memorial contriutions may be made to the Apostolic Christian Home of Eureka or the BroMenn Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com

N. Phillips
Died - At his residence near Benson, Ill., April 11, N. Phillips, aged 56 years and 4 days. Deceased was born in France and has resided in Woodford county for a number of years.

Barbara Phelps
A. Barbara Phelps, 88, formerly of Roanoke, died at 8:10 a.m. Monday in East Peoria. She was born June 6, 1918, in Braintree, Mass., the daughter of Cedric and Anna Rajula Fisher. She married John Dearborn on June 20, 1942, in Greenfield, Mass. He died Aug. 13, 1991. She later married Lawson "Bill" Phelps in 1992 in Mansfield, Mass. He died in January of 1998.

Survivors include three sons, Robert (Sherry) Dearborn, Peoria, Dana (Gloria) Dearborn, Marquette Heights, and Dean Dearborn, Williamsburg, Va.; one stepson, Dr. Ernest (Margaret) Phelps, Goldsboro, N.C.; two grandshildren; two stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers.

Phelps was a teacher and principal at Rogers Elementary School in North Pekin for 25 years, retiring in 1977. She also operated Lorene's Department Store in Roanoke. Phelps was a member of the Roanoke United Methodist Church, the Marquette Heights Presbyterian Church and the Tazewell County Retired Teachers.

There will be no service. Cremations rites have been accorded. Burial of the cremains will be at a later date at Pine Grove Cemetery in Fitzwilliam, Mass. Memorials may be made to the Central Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Robert Parkin
Last week we announced the death of Mr. Robert Parkin, which sad event took place at his late residence, four miles southeast of Washburn, on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 5 o'clock a.m. He caught cold a few days before, which settled on his lungs and turned to pneumonia, which carred him off in his 39the years.

Robert R. Parkin was born in Bratton Flemming, Devonshire, England, April 6, 1849, lie came to Tazwell county. His, with his parents, six brothers and two sisters, in 1856. Three of his brothers and one sister died afterward. After a few years he moved to Woodford Co., and in March 1875 married Miss Elizabeth Richards, by whom he had two children. These and his wife are left to mourn the loss of as true a husband and kind father as could be found. His aged father, who lived with him, still survives, although almost helpless, and will soon follow his dear child. His mother died in 1878. He was a stout, robust man, and enjoyed excellent health until his last sickness, which was very short, not being quite a week. The funeral services took place at his late residence on Wednesday, conducted by Rev. Hayden of Washburn, in the presence of a large number of friends and neighbors, and the remains interred in the cemetery south of Washburn.

Michael Pifer - contributed by Avis Walker
Michael Pifer died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Morrow, in this city, yesterday morning at 7:00 o'clock, in the 98th year of his age. A splendid and remarkable old gentleman has passed from this community. He was a wonderful combination of high moral ideas, great vitality and sturdy citizenship. He could recall the aggregated progress of nearly one hundred years. He was an interesting conversationalist and a man of philosophic reflection and comprehension of human affairs. He was indeed remarkable. Recently he fell and fractured a bone of his hip and this contributed to his death, he having been failing since that occurrence. Many of our people had been hoping that he might live out the full century.

He was born in Salem township, Columbiana county, Ohio, October 8, 1816. On the paternal side he was of German descent. His father, Peter Pifer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 22, 1786, and he was a son of Peter Pifer, Sr., a native of Germany, who came to this country in 1784.

Michael Pifer was educated in columbiana county and learned the tinner's trade. In 1840 he opened a shop of his own in Garretsville, Ohio where he engaged in business for fourteen years. He filled different public positions, such as supervisor of roads, member of the school board and was a deacon in the Christian church there for seven years. Nov. 11, 1841, he was united in marriage with Hannah H. Willcott, the ceremony being performed by 'uncle' Zab Rudolph, Mrs. J. A. Garfield's father. Eleven children were born to this union, of whom the following are living: Frank. C. of Wellington, Kansas; Mrs. G. M. Weimer, of Fort Lauderville, Flordia; William of Deer Creek; Mrs. J. H. Frame, Mrs. J. H. Morrow and Edward of Eureka. The wife and mother, died in this city, November 30, 1894. The deceased had lived in Illinois for fifty-nine years. He moved from Ohio to Braceville, north of here and purchased land and did some farming and also engaged in the tinning business at Gardner, a town near there. He moved to Eureka in September, 1856. Here he kept the college boarding hall for two years and also opened up a hardware store northwest of the court house, near the railraod, in a building near where Felker's elevator is located and afterwards moved to the building where the laundry is now located. He conducted an extensive business here for thirty-two years. In connection with his son, Frank, he also conducted a branch of this business at Roanoke, where his son, Frank, was the first postmaster. He continued in active business until 1892, when he sold out and had since been retired. He had served here as township treasurer and was also road commissioner and for some years was a school director and trustee, having taken a great interest in promoting educational matters. He was a member of the Union League during the war.

The funeral will be held from his late home tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, the services being conducted by Prof. Radford. To him were born eleven children, twenty-nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; there are twenty-two grandchildren living and ten great-grandchildren.

Eugene I. Petri (known as Pee Wee)
Eugene I. Petri, 87, of 201 Locust St., Minonk, died at 2:05 a.m. Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Minonk.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Minonk. Father Robert Gilles will officiate. Burial will be in St. Patrick Catholic Church Cemetery, Minonk, with military rites. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, Minonk, with recitation of the rosary at 6:30. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Minonk Ambulance Squad, Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Minonk, or in the form of masses.

Eugene was born July 31, 1917, at Minonk, a son of Michael and Sara Helen Hock Petri. He married Emma Cremer Sept. 24, 1942, at Witchita Falls, Texas. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, Roger (Barb) Petri, Minonk; three daughters, Emma Jean (Jerry) Spencer, Edwardsville; Patricia (Rick) Fosdick, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and Joan (John) Weter, Normal; three brothers, Joseph (Ruth) Petri, Minonk; Virgil (Jeannie) Petri, Hot Springs, Ark.; Norbert (Dorothy) Petri, Minonk; one sister, Mary (James) Ford, Minonk; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ann Marie, and four brothers.

Mr. Petri was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Minonk, where he had served as a trustee of the Knights of Columbus Council 985, Minonk, the Bloomington Assembly of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Council 213. From 1941 to 1945 he served with the United States Army Air Corp during World War II. He was a member and past commander of the Minonk American Legion. He was the sexton of St. Patrick Catholic Church Cemetery for many years.

He was employed by Petri Brothers Construction, Minonk, as a heating and cooling contractor for many years.

Charles H. Parkhouse
El Paso - Charles H. Parkhouse, 71, died at 7:25 a.m. Monday at the Mennonite hospital in Bloomington. A resident of Arthur, N.D. he had been visiting relatives in El Paso the last six weeks. He was taken to the hospital Sunday after being ill one week at the home of a nephew, James Parkhouse, south of El Paso. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Fickens memorial home. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery. Charles Parkhouse was born Oct. 11, 1870, son of James and Susan Parkhouse. He married Miss Mary Fell in 1900. She preceded him in death in 1927. Survivors are two sons, James and George, both of Arthur, N.D. and 10 grandchildren.

Thomas Edward Patton
El Paso - Thomas Edward Patton, 84, died shortly after midnight Wednesday at the home of his son, Claude, southeast of El Paso. He had suffered a stroke Tuesday. Funeral services will be held at the Fickens memorial home at 2 p.m. Sunday, with the Rev. Osceola McNemar of Hudon officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen mausoleum. He was born March 16, 1858, in Gridley township, son of Charles and Elizabeth Stewart Patton. He married Mary I. Messer, March 9, 1884. She died Oct. 17, 1888. He married Emma O. Purtle Jan. 28, 1890. She also preceded him in death. Survivors are his son, Claude, by his first marriage; a sister, Mrs. John Shephard, Normal; three brothers, W. A. Patton, Normal; Charles, Danville; George, San Gabriel, Calif; three grandchildren; four great grandchildren. Two sisters preceded him in death.

Della Alice Gill Pleitner
El Paso - Mrs. Henry Pleitner, 59, died early Thursday morning at her home. She suffered a paralytic stroke Monday. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Christian church. The Rev. Osceola McNemar will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery. Della Alice Gill was born July 29, 1882, at Hudson, the daughter of James and Angeline Gill. She was married Nov. 16, 1933 to Henry Pleitner in Bloomington. Surviving are her husband and father.