Claire E. BivensClaire E. BivensClaire E. Bivens, 95, of Avon died at 8:57 a.m. Thursday, March 30, 1995, at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb.
He was born June 12, 1899 in Exeter, Neb. to John W. and Mary E. McCoy Bivens. He married Nettie R. Mills Nov. 25, 1922 at Davenport, Iowa. She preceded him in death March 13, 1972.
He is survived by two sons, William W. Bivens and Robert M. Bivens, both of Avon; three daughters, Marjorie McElhiney of Avon, Dorothy Strode of Navasota, Texas and Margaret Luper of Table Grove; 22 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers and one sister.
He was a lifelong resident of Avon. He was a 1918 graduate of Avon High School and attended Knox College. He was a U.S. World War I Army veteran and the DAR honored him for the 75th anniversary of World War I veterans. He was a self-employed painter and contractor and later worked at Galesburg Glass, retiring in 1964. He coached baseball in Avon for 20 years. He played 3-I League baseball in Davenport, Iowa. He was a life member of Abingdon American Legion 381. He was a member of the Avon Town board for 12 years, Avon School Board for eight years, Avon Fire Department and a member of Avon Harmony Lodge 253.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Corman Memorial Home in Avon with the Rev. Jon Prain officiating. Burial was in the Avon Cemetery with military rites.
A Masonic service was held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Avon Little League and Avon Athletic Boosters.