SR0093 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0093 LRB098 10701 GRL 41017 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gentry C. Thetford of Metamora, formerly of Washington, who passed away on February 8, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Gentry Thetford was born on June 26, 1929, in Bradford, Tennessee; his parents were the late Simon Vernie Thetford and Vera Mai Thetford; he married Betty Joyce "BJ" Harder on March 18, 1951; and

WHEREAS, Gentry Thetford graduated from Woodruff High School in 1947; and

WHEREAS, Gentry Thetford began his professional career at Couch & Heyle, where he worked for 39 years, serving the majority of that time as the company's purchasing agent until the company's closure in 1986; he ended his career at MRS Industrial, where he retired in 1995; and

WHEREAS, Gentry Thetford served his country for 8 years in the Naval Reserves during the Korean War; he was a member of the East Peoria Hilton Masonic Lodge; and

WHEREAS, Gentry Thetford was the classic "Good Neighbor" and was bestowed that honor by the Washington Courier; and

WHEREAS, Gentry Thetford was an avid outdoorsman and animal lover who loved his fishing trips to Canada and his squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, waterfowl, deer, and turkey hunting excursions with his family and friends; he was a devoted member of Wilmor Sportsman's Club, which at one time was affiliated with the Central Illinois Beagle Club, where he enjoyed breeding champion beagles who won many awards at field trials throughout the central Illinois region; he enjoyed bowling, for which he received many individual and team awards; he was a frequent visitor to the "boys' swamp", where he enjoyed searching for morel mushrooms; he also loved the St. Louis Cardinals; and

WHEREAS, Gentry Thetford is survived by his wife, Betty "BJ"; his son, Donn Thetford; his daughters, Sheri (Robert) Perkins and Gale Thetford; his grandsons, Nathan Tonnies, Derek Thetford, Robert (Taylor) Perkins, Stuart Schmadeke, and Aaron Perkins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Gentry C. Thetford; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Gentry Thetford as an expression of our sympathy.