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Joseph Benton 'J.B.' Kuykendall of Marion

Joseph Benton "J.B." Kuykendall, age 93, of Marion, passed away peacefully at 3:53 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in Heartland Regional Medical Center of Marion.

He was born on Friday, April 8, 1927, in Dexter, Missouri, the son of Joseph Benton "Joe" Kuykendall and Marie (Witulski) Kuykendall.

J.B. answered the call of his nation in May 1945 by serving in the U.S. Army stateside at the end of World War II. After his period of faithful service, he was honorably discharged in October 1946.

He was united in marriage to Evelyn Pauline Pate on Saturday, June 19, 1948, in Pickett, Arkansas, and together they shared 72 years of marriage.

His working career was with the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in 1979. After retirement, he bought Sherlock Holmes Mobile Homes and managed the company until he retired at the age of 80.

He was also part of P&K Construction Co. with his brother-in-law, Paul Pate, for many years.

J.B. was a troop leader with Boy Scouts of America for many years and was an avid hunter and fisherman in his early years.

At various times he led Bible studies at the Williamson County Jail, Marion Federal Penitentiary and Vienna State Prison. This continued until his health began to fail.

He loved his family and many friends and was always interested in all of their many activities. The memories created will now be cherished by those he leaves behind.

Above all, he loved the Lord and served Him every single day of his adult life. He shared that love with everyone he knew and everyone he met. He was a giver. If someone needed a bed, he bought one. He loved giving and serving others.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Pauline Kuykendall, of Marion; son, Jerry D. (Linda) Kuykendall of Tunnel Hill; three daughters, Jane A. (Kenneth) Anderson of Marion, Barbara Koelker of Marion and Jennifer L. (Philip) Kubow of Nashotah, Wisconsin; 13 grandchildren, Christopher Kuykendall of Sedalia, Missouri, Julie Morgan of Chicago, Laura (Nathan) Miles of Marion, Rachel (James) Capel of Saint Louis, Brian Koelker of Marion, Angela (Gary) Frankie of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Andrea (Brent) Rose of Wildwood, Missouri, Curtis (Savannah) Kubow of Hartland, Wisconsin, Clint (Molly) Kubow of Robinson, Emily (Chris) Eastman of Kentucky, Melissa (Matt) Butner of Indiana, Abigail (Schyler) McNeil of Louisville, Kentucky, and Molly (Richie) Quick of Lexington, Kentucky; 23 great-grandchildren; a sister, Phyllis Tunning of Cincinnati; a son-in-law, Kent McCollough of Louisville, Kentucky; and other extended family and many friends.

J.B. was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, JoEllen McCollough; a brother, Robert Kuykendall; and his three sisters, Betty Smith, Alice Roland and Shirley Woodmansee.

Arrangements were entrusted to Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court St., Marion.

A private graveside service was held.

For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to "The Prison Fellowship."

Memorial contributions may be mailed in care of Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court St., Marion, IL 62959. Or you may go online to www.prisonfellowship.org and donate online.

To leave an online condolence of memory visit the website at www.wilsonmcreynolds.com. For additional information call the funeral home at (618) 993-2131.