Photo courtesy of Adams Funeral Chapel - Charleston
Jul 13, 1941 - May 10, 2018
Our condolences to you and your family. My brother, Wayne Reed, worked at GE until 2002 and my husband worked there until it closed.
Phil and Sheila Littleton
May 12, 2018 | Mattoo, IL | Acquaintance
I'm sorry to hear that you have lost your husband, father grandpa, I had the pleasure of knowing Bill, Ruth and family, who without them I could not have coped with caring for a spouse in Hospice care. Your family will always be special to me. Billy is like a mini Bill, a sweetheart through and through. RIP Bill, you will never be forgotten. Please let me know if I can help in any way.
Kathy Kelly Whalen
Katherine Whalen
May 12, 2018 | Charleston, IL | Neighbor
Prayers of comfort to the family....love from a long time friend...Brenda (Cassiday) Garza
Brenda Dunning..Cassiday..Garza
May 12, 2018 | Charleston, IL | Friend
So sorry to here about Bill. He was a true friend from childhood. We were neighbors ran together. Bill and I enlisted in the military togather He in the Navy and me in the Air Force. After discharge I went to work in Joliet for awhile and we lost touch. when I came back to Charleston I ran into Bil at the fair ad it was like we were still in school. My deepest sympathy to hts family.
James Pearcy
May 12, 2018 | Charleston, IL | Friend
I offer my deepest sympathy for your loss, May your memories sustain you and your heartache be lifted with God's love. Bill was a kind and respectful person from the time he was a teenager.
I hadn't seen Bill or his sister for over 35 years but we used to live within blocks of each other as children. I was several years younger but Bill was friends with my older brother, Gig, and Ruthie was older than me but always kept me occupied when my parents visited their parents. Fond...
Judy Walden
May 11, 2018 | Arcola, IL | Acquaintance
MATTOON, IL – Cecil William Kearns, age 76 of Mattoon and formerly of Charleston, passed to his Heavenly Home on Thursday, May 10, 2018 while at OSF Heart of Mary Hospital in Urbana. Visitation will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 14, 2018 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. The Funeral Service honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, with Pastor Rachel Moore officiating. Burial, with military rites, will follow in North Union (Craig) Cemetery located in Morgan Township northeast of Charleston. It is requested that donations in his honor be made to the Marshall Avenue Christian Church in Mattoon. Gifts may be left at the visitation or service or mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.
Bill was born July 13, 1941 in Ashmore, Illinois, the son of the late Wayne T. and Mary (Fowler) Kearns. He was a 1959 graduate of Charleston High School and faithfully served his country with the U.S. Navy. He was employed in the Industrial Maintenance Department at General Electric in Mattoon for 33 years. It is where he met his future wife, Ruth Tichenor, and they were married 49 years ago on May 3, 1969. In addition to his loving and devoted wife Ruth, he is survived by three children, Steven Casebeer and wife Tanya of Seattle, Washington, Michelle Hall and fiancé Carl Farmer of Rome, Georgia,William Kearns and wife Sherry of Greenup, Illinois; and ten grandchildren, Carter, Jackson, Jillian, and Vlad Casebeer, Alexander and Aric Hall, and Jace, Jadynn, Jaxson, and Jalayna Kearns. Bill was also preceded by a daughter, Shannon Kearns and a sister, Ruth Hallett.
Bill was a member of Marshall Avenue Christian Church in Mattoon where he served as a Trustee. He was a member of the Mattoon American Legion Post 88, and a former member of the Charleston Moose and Eagles Clubs.
Bill truly enjoyed traveling out on the open highway and he and Ruth visited nearly all of the states in U.S. He kept busy tinkering with motors and cars and was hardly ever seen without a cup of coffee in hand. His family was his pride and joy and ultimately it was his grandchildren who were at the top of that list. He will be dearly missed and remembered with great love and devotion.
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