In Memoriam January 7th

1945 Gerald Lathrop killed in action in World War II.  Battle of Wingen-sur-Moder Jan. 3-7, 1945.  70th 'Trailblazers' Infantry Division;  179th Infantry; & 276th Infantry vs. 361st Volksgrenadier Division; 1st & 3rd Battalions of the 12th SS Gebirgsjager Regiment; and the 6th SS Mountain Division.  U.S. losses were 25 killed and 84 wounded, plus GIs suffering from exposure.  US troops fell back to Oberbronn to regroup and recover. [http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-wingen-sur-moder.htm]  Gerald was 21 years old the son of Dennis & Mabel (Petty) Lathrop. 

1951 Nora (McCulley) Lathrop - Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday for Mrs. Nora Lathrop, who passed away Sunday evening at the home of her son Harold Lathrop, on Route 4, following a six weeks illness.  Services were conducted from Union Chapel Church by Rev. C. Landis of Casey, Ill., assisted by Rev. LaVerl Cook.  Burial was in the Sumner cemetery.  Mrs. Lathrop was born July 24, 1886 in Lawrence County, a daughter of Edward and Nancy Tomlinson McCauley.  She spent her entire lifetime in this county and taught school at Spring Hill and Pepple.  She was a member of the Union Chapel Church.  She was united in marriage September 1911, to William Lathrop who preceded her in death on May 5, 1948.  She is survived by four sons, George E. of San Antonio, Texas, Leland of Antioch, Harold of R. 4 Sumner and Don of R. 1 Lawrenceville and one brother Calvin McCauley of Sumner.

1954 Mrs. Catherine (Richardson) Garrison, 77, of West Salem, Ill. a former Jefferson County resident, died in the Olney Hospital Thursday at 8 a.m., Mrs. Garrison had been ill but a few days and her death was unexpected.  She was born in Jefferson County, Feb. 13, 1876, the daughter of the late Hasten and Amanda (Gentle) Richardson.  She was married to William Garrison, who preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at the Opdyke Baptist Church, Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Bird Green officiating. Burial will be in the Opdyke Cemetery. She is survived by two sons, Dr. H. G. Garrison of West Salem, and Charles Garrison of Toledo, Oregon, a daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Somers of Paducah, Ky. and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are four brothers, Ross Richardson of Wayne City, Delbert Richardson of Belle Rive, Orlay and John Richardson of Bluford and a sister, Mrs. Bob Bundy also of Bluford.

1966 William Bryan age 76 son of Wesley & Catherine (Smith) Bryan was born 1889 in Clay Co., IL..  He is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Decatur, IL.

2004 Beth Ann Thomason, 35 of Aurora, died January 7, 2004 at the Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora from cancer.  Beth was a waitress. Services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield with Rev. Todd Shaw officiating.  Burial is in Maple Hill Cemetery.  Friends may call Monday evening (tonight) from 4 – 8 p.m. at Nale’s.  Beth was born May 27, 1968 in Aurora, the daughter of Warren R. and Linda K. Whitlow Thomason originally from Fairfield.  She had attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and was a member of East Side Social Club, Turner’s Club, Eagles Club, all of Aurora.  Survivors include four children:  Joshua Steven Loomis, Shawn Lee Loomis, Becca Marie Loomis, Nicholas Scott Loomis all of Aurora; her parents, Warren R. and Linda K. Thomason, Aurora; a brother, Warren Lee Thomason, Aurora; three nephews and several aunts, uncles and cousins, some in the Wayne County area.  Preceding her in death were her grandparents.  Memorials may be made to the Beth A. Thomason Children’s Educational Fund c/o Old Second National Bank, 1200 Douglas Ave., Oswego, IL  60543.