Willard Whipple

Willard G. "Bill" Whipple, age 76, of Belle Rive, passed away at his home at 1:05 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.He was born March 18, 1933, in rural Hamilton County in Dahlgren, the son of Will and Lena (Bosworth) Whipple. He married Laura Katherine Garrison on April 12, 1952.Mr. Whipple is survived by his wife and children, David Whipple and wife Marlene of Ashley, SMSgt. Greg Whipple of Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Carol Whipple of Christopher, John Whipple and wife Angie of Belle Rive and Mary Wilkerson and husband David of Dahlgren; and seven grandchildren, Elayna Lacy and husband Brent of Rockville, Ind., Kevin Whipple and wife Sarah of Ashley, Jaicie Holland and husband Billy of Benton, Ky., Jared Whipple and Jamin Whipple of Belle Rive, and Aaron Wilkerson and Alysha Wilkerson of Dahlgren. He has five great-grandchildren, Matthew, David and Ella Lacy and Dylan and Dawson Holland. He has one brother, Gary Whipple and wife Sharon of Dahlgren; and two sisters, Lutitia Monroe of Dahlgren and Nana Wilson and husband Richard of Wood River.He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, David. He was a member of the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church, a farmer and was active for many years with the Jefferson County 4-H youth and an avid wood worker.Friends may call at the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the church in Belle Rive with the Revs. Jeremy Hamson and Kenneth Holland officiating. Interment will follow at IOOF Cemetery in Dahlgren.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society and will be accepted at the church. For further information, contact Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro at 643-2321.And in the end, it is not the years in your life that counts, it's the life in your years.