Charles Rairden

CHARLES A. RAIRDEN, 93, Arcola, IL, passed away at 11:47 A.M. on Monday, November 9, 2015, at The Arthur Home in Arthur, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, November 16, 2015, at the Arcola United Methodist Church, 121 South Locust Street in Arcola, IL. Rev. Vince Rohn will officiate. Burial with military rites conducted by the Arcola VFW and the Arcola American Legion will be in the Cartwright Cemetery in rural Tuscola, IL. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 15, 2015, at Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main Street in Arcola, IL.

Charlie was born October 21, 1922, in rural Tuscola, IL. He was the son of James Alfred and Cynthia Ellen (Houser) Rairden. He married Mabel Juanita Brann on January 1, 1947, in Tuscola, IL. She preceded him in death on September 1, 2006.

Charlie is survived by two sons, Steve Rairden of Arcola, IL, and John Rairden of Tuscola, IL; three daughters, Sue Stout and her husband, Jerry, Julie Mills and her husband, John, and Nancy Rairden, all of Arcola, IL; four grandchildren, Nathan Roberts, M.D. of Arcola, IL, Lori Willoughby and her husband, Brett, of Mahomet, IL, Jeffrey Rairden and his wife, Nicole, of Sun Prairie, WI, and Bryson Mills and his wife, Casey, of Arcola, IL; five step-grandchildren, Jenny Sheehan and her husband, Tom, of Orland Park, IL, Jeri Waldeck and her husband, Jim, of Pawnee, IL, Jeff Stout of Arcola, IL, Jason Mills and his wife, Holly, of Tuscola, IL and Kyle Mills of Urbana, IL; eight great-grandchildren, Myles and Cameron Roberts, Avery Willoughby, Bodey, Holten and Decker Rairden and Michael and Stella Mills; and eight step-great-grandchildren, Madeline, and Kaelyn Sheehan, Zachary Waldeck, Cheyenne Stout, Cody, Sydney and Emily Mills, and Logan Mills.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Juanita, and three sisters, Margaret Greve, Mary Buoy and Paulene Pearson.

Charlie was a 1940 graduate of Tuscola Community High School. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. While overseas he spent most of his time at Assam, India, where he serviced and changed engines in C-46 and C-47 planes, which flew cargo and passengers over “The Hump” into China.

After serving his country from 1942 to 1945, Charlie returned to Douglas County and farmed until his retirement. He was a Douglas County Farm Bureau member, a 4-H club leader and served on the board of directors for Arcola Co-op Grain Company.

Charlie was a former member of Cartwright Methodist Church in rural Tuscola, IL. He was a member of Arcola United Methodist Church, where he had served as Trustee Chair and was involved in the United Methodist Men.

Charlie and Juanita were Habitat for Humanity home builders in Charleston, SC, and Montgomery, AL.

Memorials may be made to the Arcola United Methodist Church of Arcola, IL or The Arthur Home in Arthur, IL.