George W. Senteney

George W. Senteney, 84, of DeKalb, Ill., passed away Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center in DeKalb.
Born June 18, 1922, in Thebes, Ill., he was the son of Shelby and Vera (Binkley) Senteney. He lived in Carbondale for most of his growing-up years and attended Carbondale High School. After graduating from Southern Illinois University in 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy Reserve, going to Officer Candidate School at Northwestern in Chicago.
After graduating as an ensign, he was ordered to Raleigh, N.C., for more training. While there, he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Jean Smith, on March 4, 1944, before sailing with his ship, the LSM 64, across the Pacific Ocean to fight in the Philippines for the duration of the war. After his discharge from service in 1946 as a lieutenant, junior grade, he went on to earn his master's degree and doctorate at the University of Missouri. While teaching at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, he was called back to service during the Korean War and served as a training officer at Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
In 1955, he and his family came to DeKalb, where he accepted a professorship at Northern Illinois University in the Industry and Technology Department. He taught there for 29 years before retiring in 1984.
George was a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks for 50 years. He served as Exalted Ruler of DeKalb Lodge 765 in 1961, and held several lodge and district offices in the state over the years.
He loved music, especially jazz; he also was an avid fisherman. George enjoyed Indy car racing and was a true St. Louis Cardinals fan.
He is survived by a son, George W. (Lori) Senteney Jr., and two grandsons, Jacob and Maxwell Senteney; and another son, Steven R. (Kim) Senteney, a granddaughter, Andrea Senteney, and four Sanderson step-grandchildren. He also is survived by his wife, Betty Mascal Senteney, whom he married in 1981; they celebrated their 25th anniversary this June. Also surviving are seven Mascal stepchildren and 16 step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, in 1980; a daughter, Susan, in 2004; and his parents.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with the Rev. Jane Eesley officiating. Private burial will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb with full military rites. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with an Elks service to be held at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Illinois Elks Crippled Children's Corp.
Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information, call (815) 758-3841. To send an online condolence, visit www.ronanmoorefinch.com.