CORRECTED OBITUARY – Oral W. Elam, 93, Edwardsville
Oral W. Elam, 93, of Edwardsville, died at 12:05 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2009, at Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville.
Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. this Saturday at First Baptist Church in Edwardsville, with the Rev. Stephen Disney officiating. Burial will be in Olive Hill Cemetery in Coffeen. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of services on Wednesday at the church. Saksa-Mateer Funeral Home of Edwardsville was in charge of arrangements. Memorials: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Memorials: First Baptist Church, 34 St. Louis St., Edwardsville 62025 or Hospice of Southern Illinois, 305 S. Illinois St., Belleville 62220-2159. His grandson, Kraig Smith, is running a marathon in honor of his grandfather, as well as his own son, who is also battling leukemia; visit the Web site, http://PAGES.TEAMINTRAINING.ORG/TXG/RNRSEATL09/KSMITHVFYG.
Mr. Elam was born on March 17, 1916, on the Bond County farm of his parents, George and Jane Thacker Elam. He married Dorothy Kimbro on Nov. 26, 1938, in St. Charles, Mo.; she died on Oct. 14, 1980. He married Lucille Van Geison, formerly of Farmersville, on Nov. 26, 1983.
He and his wife, Dorothy, farmed together near Hillsboro for more than 30 years. As a young adult, he served as a deacon at his childhood country church, Mt. Moriah, near Coffeen, and he then served as a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro. His final home church was First Baptist Church in Edwardsville. When his children were young, he served as a PTA president. He enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels. He learned to play golf in his late 60s, and enjoyed spending his winters in Stuart, Fla.
He is survived by his wife; daughters, Nancy and her husband Robert Smith of League City, Texas, Linda and her husband John Callander of Alton, and Brenda Elam of Vandalia; stepdaughter, Carol Van Geison and her husband Dennis Pluta of Edwardsville; sister, Ruth Ellington of Princeville; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Oliver and Ira; sisters, Alma, Cordia Ruppe, Geneva Roberts and Virginia Flowers; a great-granddaughter; and stepson, Rodney Van Geison of Farmersville.