Ronald G Slater

ASTORIA ~ Ronald George Slater, 73, of 386 Shaw Schisler Road, passed away at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at Graham Hospital in Canton. He was a former longtime resident of Marquette Heights.Born June 6, 1937 in Peoria to George Louis and Irene Susan (Weger) Slater, he married Linda Sanders on May 2, 1959 in Peoria. She survives.Also surviving are two daughters, Penny Lynn Calloway and Jill Marie Slater, both of Pekin; four grandchildren, Jeff Cunningham of Marquette Heights, John Hackney, Cody Myers, Austin Calloway, Jr., all of Pekin; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, James W. (Deloris) Slater of Chillicothe and John E. Slater of Peoria; two nieces and one nephew.He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister and one brother.He was a Navy veteran.Ron worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 30 years, retiring in 1998 as a blacksmith. He also worked for 10 years at Armour Meats in Peoria.He was a member of Havana Baptist Church and a former member of Grace Baptist Church in Marquette Heights, Twin Oaks Baptist Church in East Peoria and Peoria Heights Missionary Baptist Church.A fan of the Chicago Cubs, Ron enjoyed hunting and fishingHis funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. The Rev. Don Full will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, with military rites accorded by the United States Navy and the Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team.Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com