BILL L. TOOMER

Bill Toomer

Bill L. Toomer, 75, of rural Lewistown died at 8:45 a.m. March 26, 2014, at his home.

He was born July 9, 1938, in rural Smithfield, the son of Orval R. and Marie Buck Toomer. He married Ellie Lester on Oct. 28, 1956, in rural Lewistown at the home of Ellie’s grandparents. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Chris Toomer of rural Lewistown and Jeff (and Sara) Toomer of Mahomet; three sisters, Dorothy Grigsby of Gallatin, Tenn., Verda Roberts of Farmington and Mary (and Don) Sill of Canton; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He worked for Modern Inland Limited as a shift supervisor at the Liverpool dock for many years.

He received a Certificate of Merit from the U.S. Coast Guard on Aug. 16, 1982, for courage, presence of mind and initiative as a result of extinguishing a fire from an explosion on a barge at Liverpool and moving men to safety. He later worked for Hitchcock Scrap Yard and retired from there.

He served in the Illinois Air National Guard from 1956-59.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Lewistown and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 649.

Services were held Saturday at Henry-Lange Memorial Home in Lewistown with Reverend Danie deBeer officiating. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewistown with a military service conducted by Lewistown VFW Post 5001 and Lewistown American Legion Bishop Post 1.

Memorials may be made to his church.

Condolences may be sent to www.henrylange.com.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 4/2/2014