Winifred Mankin Keeling
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Winifred Mankin Keeling, 93, of Louisville, Ky., formerly of Du Quoin, joined his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 24, 2012 at Louisville, Ky.
He was the fifth child born to Edley Gaines and Cora May Keeling on Aug. 7, 1918 in Perry County, rural Du Quoin, Ill. on the land homesteaded by his grandfather, Elisha Gaines Keeling. He was born anew into the family of God at the age of 10 and was baptized in Omaha Creek, Neb. From the age of two to 16, his life was lived in Walthill, Neb., where his family were sharecroppers on the Omaha and Winnibago reservations. The family returned to the Du Quoin homestead in 1935. He graduated from Benton Township High School in Benton, Ill. in 1936 and from Mortuary School in 1938. He entered the Army on Feb. 27, 1941 and was honorably discharged in November of 1945. He served in the African and Italian Campaigns as a medical administrative officer from March 7, 1943 to October of 1945. Following the war, he was in the construction trade prior to returning to his profession as a mortician and funeral director. He was active in the life of his community. On Nov. 8, 1956, he was employed by the Schroder Funeral Home in Du Quoin. This funeral home became the Keeling Funeral Home in 1959. His service of love and compassion continued until the business was sold in 1975 and a move to Kentucky was made to be near his daughter and grandson.
Winifred married Billie Lynette Jones on April 18, 1942 in Burbank, Calif. To this union were born Lynette Carol and Jeanette Ann, and by adoption, Mark David.
He was preceded in death by his parents - Edley Gaines and Cora May Keeling, sisters - Faye, Una, Nina and Viva, daughter - Jeanette Ann and son - Mark David.
He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years - Billie Lynette Keeling, daughter - Lynette Carol Keeling, grandson - Eric James Watson (Amanda), one niece - Nila Loueen Blauvelt (Ron) of Carthage, Mo. and one nephew - Kenneth Arden Cornwell (Joyce) of Lincoln, Neb.
He was a member and deacon of St. Matthews Baptist Church and was a founding member of the men's chorale at the church, Cornerstone.
Graveside services will be conducted at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery at Valier following the visitation at Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial will be in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery at Valier.
Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Du Quoin V.F.W. and American Legion and the Army National Guard.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.