HOOPESTON – Melvin E. Symmonds, 91, of Hoopeston, a former Rankin resident, died at 3:12 p.m. Sunday (March 10, 2013) at Heritage Health, Hoopeston.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells St., Paxton with Pastor Jen Hartwig Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Rankin Union Cemetery, Rankin.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Symmonds was born Dec. 26, 1921, in Rankin, the son of Earl and Ethel Dahl Symmonds. He married Lucille Christensen in August 1946.

Survivors include two daughters, Jan Ruffner of Urbana and Sally Symmonds of Cullman, Ala.; a son, Les (Debbie) Symmonds of Rankin; four grandchildren, Zach Ellis, Nathan and Shelby Symmonds, and Brian Ruffner; three great-grandchildren, Noah, Maverick and Hailey; one brother, Gerald Symmonds of Nevada; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; one brother; and one grandson, Michael Symmonds.

Melvin graduated from Rankin High School in 1939. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he went to work as an assistant cashier at the Rankin State Bank and retired as vice president in 1983 after 40 years.

Mr. Symmonds was a lifelong member of the Grace Lutheran Church, Rankin, and served on the church board.

He was a 70-year member of the Hoopeston American Legion Post 384 and a 50-year member of the Buddy Egnew VFW Post 4826, the Moose Lodge, Hoopeston Masonic Lodge No. 709 AF&AM and the DeKalb County Shrine Club.

He was also a member of the Rankin Lions Club and the Valley of Danville Consistory.

He served on the Rankin school board and as the Rankin village clerk and Butler Township treasurer. He was an avid sports fan with the Chicago Cubs and Bears being his favorites.

Memorials may be made to the Grace Lutheran Church or an organization of the donor's choice.

Melvin E Symmonds (1921)