Mrs. Anna Matilda Van Deventer, of Urbana, formerly of Springfield, died Monday at Mercy Hospital, Urbana, following a long illness. She was 93 years old. Mrs. Van Deventer was born Oct. 23, 1862 [stone has 1861], southeast of Springfield, a daughter of James and Eleanor Jane Marlow Tobin. She attended Springfield High school and later taught primary grades at Dubois and Converse schools. She was married to Charles E. Van Deventer June 13, 1888, and they resided for many years at N. Fourth St. Mr. Van Deventer died in February, 1921.

Mrs. Van Deventer resided in Springfield until 1940 when she moved to Urbana to reside with her daughter, Miss Ruth Van Deventer, a member of the University of Illinois staff, as assistant editor in agriculture. Mrs. Van Deventer was active in church work, first as a Methodist and after moving to Urbana as a member of the Presbyterian church.

She organized the Woman's Foreign Missionary society at Kumler Methodist church and served as superintendent of the Sunday school primary department. Both she and her husband taught Sunday school classes. While residing in Springfield she was a member of the literary researchers, Via Christi, The Hannah Palmer Circle of Kings Daughters and an associate member of the Amateur Musical club. Her home was always open to musicians and while Mr. Van Deventer was living, each Sunday afternoon for many years local musicians gathered at their home to play and to enjoy her famous Sunday night suppers. In 1932 she began collecting religious poems as a hobby and her collection includes several hundred.

Besides her daughter, she is survived by several nieces and nephews. Remains are at the Walker funeral home in Urbana. Services will be tomorrow at First Presbyterian church, Urbana. Burial will be at Oak Ridge cemetery here.

IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, Weds., Feb. 22, 1956