ENERGY - John Wesley Funkhouser, 70, passed away 12:15 p.m. Saturday, April 7, 2007, in his residence. Mr. Funkhouser was a retired correctional officer with the State of Illinois. He was first employed at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, and later transferred to Shawnee Correctional Center in Vienna. He was a member of Park Ave. Church of God in Herrin, and a veteran of U. S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He loved to attend church and listen to gospel music. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, 2007, in Park Avenue Church of God in Herrin, with the Rev. J. K. Tiffin officiating. Interment with military graveside rites will be conducted by Marion VFW Post 1301, in East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Herrin. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 9, 2007, at Meredith-Waddell Funeral Home in Herrin. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or Park Avenue Church of God in Herrin.
He was born May 23, 1936, in West Frankfort, to Rex and Katherine (Sauls) Funkhouser. John was united in marriage to Delores Ann Johnson on January 5, 1957, in Melrose Park. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Delores Funkhouser of Energy; two sons and daughters-in-law, John W. and Linda Funkhouser Jr., of Conway, AR, and Matthew Funkhouser of West Frankfort; three grandchildren, Stephen and Paige Funkhouser of Fayetteville, AR, Matthew Brandon Funkhouser of Springfield and Sharon Massey and husband, Adam, of Jackson, TN; one great-grandson, Aaron Massey of Jackson, TN; two sisters, Juanita Tackett of Johnston City and Shirley Campbell of Crossville, TN; brother and sister-in-law, Walter 'Skipper' and Helen Johnson of Amanda, Ohio; two brothers-in-law, Donald Tackett of Johnston City and James Patrick Ratchford of West Frankfort; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Ruth Ann (Funkhouser) Scobey and Sharon Kay Funkhouser; parents; and two sisters, LaWanda Cagle and Carolyn Ratchford.