Charles L. Montgomery

CHARLES LEONARD MONTGOMERY Charles Leonard Montgomery, 80, of Oakwood, passed away at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, April 7th, 2011 at his home. Charles was born on March 1st, 1931, in Tilton, Illinois, the son of Charles Dean and Marie (Young) Montgomery. He married Elizabeth Ann Betty Brewington on August 24th, 1958 at the Rankin Methodist Church. She survives. He is also survived by his four children- Elizabeth Jane (George) Osborn of Potomac, Charles Donald (Tamra) Montgomery of Fisher, Victoria Jean (Delbert) Lallathin of Fithian and John Dale Montgomery of Oakwood; ten grandchildren- Charles Lawrence (Courtney) Montgomery of Homer, Christopher Joe Montgomery of Pinckneyville, Wesley Donald Montgomery of Decatur, Clinton Eli, Blake Andrew and Grant Montgomery Lallathin of Fithian, Jennifer Elizabeth and Joseph Wesley Osborn of Potomac, Stephanie Lynn (Kylee) Bott of Clarksville, Tennessee and Heather Marie Caudill of Fisher; six great-grandchildren; sister-in-law- Betty Montgomery of Danville; and nephew- Tony (Valerie) Montgomery of Oakwood. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother- Joe Dean Montgomery. Charles graduated from Danville High School in 1948. After high school he worked for Seal Test Ice Cream, David Meat Packing, Lauhoff Grain Company, Allied Chemical Company, RGIS and was a proof reader for Farm Books. Charles later graduated from Danville Junior College and later the University of Illinois, with his Master plus 60 Degree in Education Administration. He worked for 33 years as a school teacher. He started working as a teacher and a coach for Muncie and later was the principal and teacher for Wingard School in Georgetown. Charles spent 27 of those years teaching for Unit 4 School District in Champaign, until retiring in 1992. Charles served for several years as a member of the Army Reserves. He was also a charter and life member and past secretary of the Tilton Historical Society, charter member and past secretary of the Oakwood Historical Society, member and past secretary of the Vermilion County Historical Society, member of the Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society, member of the Songer Cemetery Board for several years, member of Rivercrest Golf Course, member of the Grasshopper Club, past member and treasurer of Harrison Park Golf Association, past president of the Champaign Education Association, member of the Illinois Education Association, life member of the National Education Association, past franchise holder for the Oakwood Youth Football for several years, coach for youth football and youth baseball in Oakwood, past WEBLOS leader and played as a pitcher for the Twilight Baseball League in Danville. Charles enjoyed golfing, Illini football and basketball, college sports, high school football, reading history and geology books, doing puzzles in the newspaper, genealogy, and indexing of scrapbooks on the computer. He also loved talking with his family and friends, telling stories and giving history lessons. A Celebration of the life of Charles Leonard Montgomery will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, a Life Celebration Home, with Pastor Patti Wise officiating. Burial will follow the service in Songer Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Tilton Historical Society, Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society or to the Oakwood United Methodist Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.