Howard F. Pilkington

He was born April 27, 1924, in Roodhouse, Ill., to George and Alta (Maeberry) Pilkington. He married Edith Harrison on Oct. 18, 1942. She died April 4, 1997. He later married Dorothy "Pat" Shover on Jan. 31, 2000, in Ocala, Fla. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Louise Brian of Ocklawaha, Fla., Gary (Bobbye) Pilkington of Ocklawaha, Fla., and Beverly (Mel) McDonnough and Joyce (Tom) Hale, both of Creve Coeur; one sister, Mary (Lee) Johnston of Elk Grove Village, Ill.; one stepsister, Vickie (Chuck) Champelovier of Ocklawaha, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, one sister and one grandson.

Howard was a World War II Army veteran.

He was a former member and past Commander of the Creve Coeur VFW. He also was a former member of Creve Coeur Christian Church.

He worked at Caterpillar for 31 years, retiring as a pipe fitter in January of 1977.

He and Edith owned and operated Lake Bryant Fishing Camp for more than 20 years.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2011, at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Diabetes Association .

Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.remmertfuneralhome.com.