Irvin L. Pocklington

Irvin L. Pocklington, 98, of Carlinville, passed away Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Pleasant Hill Village in Girard, IL. Irvin was born on June 9, 1915 in rural Carlinville to Frank and Emma (Lutger) Pocklington. He was the last survivor of ten siblings: brothers, Charles, Walter, Albert, Truman, Elmer, and Evan, and sisters, Clara Pocklington, Olive Bates, and Emma Leach.Irvin attended Carlinville High School, Blackburn College, and the University of Illinois, graduating with honors in 1938 with a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture and a Minor in Chemistry. Following graduation he returned to the family farming operation in Standard City, IL.Drafted in 1942, he served in the 104th Timberwolf Infantry Division, including 90 days of continuous combat in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he received the Bronze Star. In 1945 he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. He returned to Standard City and started a commercial seed corn business with his brothers.In 1945 he married Lucille Denby, who died in 1982. Mr. Pocklington farmed and was a district sales manager of Pocklington Seed Company for over 40 years, retiring in 1987. In addition to this work, he served his community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Federal Land Bank, a board member of the Federated Church, and President of the Macoupin County Farm Bureau.In 1983 he married Nancy Denby Dow. In retirement, he joined his wife's volunteer work for the American Iris Society, for which they were awarded, in 1994, the Distinguished Service Medal of the AIS at a national convention. They also traveled internationally with friends. In recent years Irvin was chosen for an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.Irvin will be greatly missed by his wife, Nancy of Girard; daughters, Susan Shedis of Brookfield, IL, Martha (Arthur) Muirhead of Clifton, VA, Judith Coles of Kansas City, MO; son, William (Robin) Pocklington of Girard; stepdaughter Virginia Dow-Stewardson of Springfield, IL; stepson James Paul (Diane) Dow of Sherman; grandchildren, Sara (Andrew) Howard, David (Lindsey) Muirhead, Abby Coles, Amy Aguiar, Matthew Coles, Betsy (Greg) Todd, Bonnie Pocklington, Kelly (Jordan) Stowell, Wendy Pocklington; stepgrandchildren, Nicholas Dow and Danielle Dow; four great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.Cremation rites will be accorded by Cremation Services of Central Illinois, Chatham. A Celebration of Life will be held July 5, 2014 at 1 PM at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 202 N East St., Carlinville, IL. Burial of his urn will be in Mayfield Cemetery, Carlinville.Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 202 N East St., Carlinville, IL 62626; Blackburn College, 700 College Ave., Carlinville; American Iris Society, 225 Skyline Dr., Sedona, AZ 86336; and Carlinville Area Hospital, 20733 N Broad St.