William 'Bill' Allen Maxton of Du Quoin

William "Bill" Allen Maxton, of Du Quoin, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois, at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 25 days.

Bill was born on Aug. 20, 1936 in Du Quoin to the late James Maxton and Dorothy Sheehan Maxton. Bill is also preceded in death by his sisters, Karen Kay Maxton and Julia Von Seggern.

Bill is survived by his children, Bambi Lyn Maxton, William "Billy" Allen Maxton II and Mary Gant; grandchildren, Luke Denton Lombardo, Trey Dillon and Destiney Lombardo, Nathaniel David Barton, and McClaine Dalton Houghland; great-grandson Ezra Grey Lombardo; sister and brother-in-law Vicki and Mike Masters; nieces and nephews, Laura Paddock Lendennie, Melody Masters, Matthew Masters, Jeff Von Seggern and Steve Von Seggren; great-nieces and nephews, Austin Babb, Easton Babb, and Alyssa Lendennie; and many friends.

Bill was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, where he graduated as an Honor Grad from boot camp and proudly worked on a variety of aircraft on Navy ships. His apartment looked like a museum with all of his collectibles, aircraft charts and pictures that he designed himself. The Spruce Goose was high on his list of favorites.

Bill enjoyed horses, working on his antique buggies and carnival glass collecting.

Bill was also a member of the Sanfilippo Foundation Antique Music Box Society in Barrington Hills, Illinois. he was a passionate owner of an El Camino and a 1934 Ford Victoria. He loved working on the Ford in Willi's garage with Bambi and Billy when they were young.

They also spent countless hours in the basement at 439 Winters Ave. building and playing with model trains.

Bill was the grandson of the Rev. William McCara Maxton, who pastored the Presbyterian Church in Du Quoin for 47 years, where Bill attended all through his childhood and adolescence. Recently, Bill attended the Pentecostal Church in Du Quoin with his dear friend, Sam Macaluso.

The family would like to thank Pastor Gary Darnell and Pastor Dan McKinnies of the Du Quoin United Pentecostal Church for the love and support they have shown during this difficult time.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held at a late date at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. For those who prefer, memorial donations may be made to the family and will be accepted at Hughes Funeral Alternatives LLC, 5411 S. Grand Blvd. (rear), St. Louis, Missouri 63111. Flameless Cremation services provided by Hughes Funeral Alternatives, LLC in St. Louis.

An online guest book for Bill can be signed by family and friends at www.HughesFuneralAlternatives.com.

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! but Jesus' love illuminated

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus' arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond Earth's shadows,

Pray to trust our Father's will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth -

You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!