William Challis
William E. Challis, 99, of Bloomington, formerly of Chatham, died at 8:24 a.m. Nov. 26, at home.
His funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, at Kibler Brady Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington with Rev. Edward Scearce officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the memorial home. Full Military Rites will be accorded by Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard.
Burial will be on at 10:00 a.m. on Monday in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington with Rev. Sara Isbell officiating. Memorials may be made to Chatham United Methodist Church, 104 West Chestnut, Chatham. 62629.
Mr. Challis was born Nov. 29, 1915, in Webster Groves, Mo., and grew up in Lewistown, the only child of Edward Challis and Ione Blackwood Challis. On Sep. 14, 1941, he married Virginia Hendrix of Marshall. She preceded him in death on May 18, 2011.
Mr. Challis is survived by his daughter, Susan (Michael) Hardy Bloomington; his son-in-law, Frank Root, Fairfield, Conn.; five grandchildren: Matthew (Sally) Hardy, Xenia, Ohio; Aidan (Renia) Fleming, Westminster, Colo.; Virginia (Chad) Jones, Pontiac; Alanson (Ashley Mathias) Root, Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and Abigail Root, New York City, N.Y. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren: Hannah, Sam and Seth Jones; Ava, Cooper, and Hudson Hardy; Jack and Seamus Fleming; and Atlas Root.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his daughter, Marianne Challis.
Mr. Challis was a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and Northwestern University. He served in the United States Army as a jeep driver and assistant chaplain from 1943-1946, serving in France, Germany and Belgium.
During his career, he was an educator. After moving to Chatham in 1960, he served as the first guidance counselor of Glenwood High School, retiring in 1976. Bill and Virginia were active in Chatham United Methodist Church for more than 50 years.
Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
