Wiltz Alonzo "Doug" Book, 86, of Denmark, S.C., and formerly of Mt. Vernon, was born in Jefferson County on Jan. 16, 1921, the youngest child of Hollice Ewell and Myrtle Ethel Bumpus Book, and died Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Providence Hospital, Columbia, S.C. He married Imogene Iris Clark on Aug. 18, 1946, and they celebrated their 60th anniversary last year. They lived in Mt. Vernon for most of his career, moving to Denmark, S.C., after he had retired and when Imogene went to work at Denmark Technical College in Denmark. Mr. Book held a bachelor's and a master's degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and did further graduate work at Bradley University and the University of Illinois. He combined a love of sports and education in all his endeavors. His first teaching position was in a one-room schoolhouse in Jefferson County. He later taught at the high school level, teaching history, social studies, English, girls' and boys' physical education, drivers' education, and coached basketball, football, track, baseball and softball. He refereed basketball games and umpired softball games and, in his "down time" in the summer, he worked as a lifeguard at the Mt. Vernon City Park in Mt. Vernon. While in college, Mr. Book boxed in Golden Gloves competition and later tried to teach his son and daughter to box, both of whom resisted hitting each other even with their father's encouragement. When he served as a school principal and later as a school superintendent, he was known for getting schools out of financial difficulty and for making sure that his teachers also shared in any salary increases he was offered. He liked watching televised sports and would often have the television and radio on at the same time, listening to different sports events. He liked to sing in harmony with his wife, he played piano "by ear," recited poetry and had a delightful and wicked sense of humor. He also claimed he would rather be at home when his wife would take him to the beach, even though he insisted on sitting on the hotel balcony with his binoculars, watching girls down on the beach. A visitation was held Friday evening at Mercer Funeral Home, Denmark, S.C. His funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Hughey Funeral Home, 1314 Main St., Mt. Vernon, IL 62864, with the Rev. Brad Ryan officiating. Burial will be in Donoho Prairie Cemetery in Marion County. Visitation in Mt. Vernon will be 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 520 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29201; to the American Lung Association, Southeast Region, 1817 Gadsden St., Columbia, SC 29201; or at any other location for these associations. Surviving are his wife, Imogene Iris Clark Book; daughter and son-in-law, Karen Lynn Book and Nick L. Mestel; a grandson and his fiancee, Alexander Bozion Mestel and Jessica Erin Pardue; a great-granddaughter, Isabelle Lenore Mestel; a sister-in-law, Jessie Skinner Clark, and her daughter, Allyson K. Clark; other nieces, nephews, cousins and their families, Ramona, Kevin, Darla, Steven and Ray Jr. Kelley, Bernice Backensto, Myrtle Tanner, Lovetta Lamport, and Connie and Terry Moore; family friends Bob and Alice Edwards; and other family too numerous to mention. He was predeceased by a son, Douglas Keith Book; sisters Jewell Burchell, Eve Baltzell, Pearl Kelley and Wilma Book; and brothers John Alph Book and Harry Alvin "Frog" Book. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home, where you may call (618) 242-3348 or visit www.hugheyfuneralhome1969.com for further information and to send condolences.