Vandalia Leader-Union

Gary Patrick Wood, 59, of Springfield, Illinois died Friday, April 29, 2022, at Kindred Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Gary was born September 20, 1962, in Peoria, Illinois to Hugh W. and Margaret Bolt Wood. Gary fell and experienced head trauma when he was 12 months old, resulting in epilepsy and seizures throughout his life. Gary attended Peoria schools until 6th grade when his family moved to Springfield, Illinois. He was in the first learning disability class in Peoria but was in mainstream classrooms in Springfield until his graduation in 1982, where he studied data entry during his final year in high school. After graduation, Gary eventually obtained a data entry job with the State of...

Lee Stokes, 75, passed away unexpectedly on February 8, 2022, from complications of a pulmonary embolism. Though his first name was Winston he went by Lee from the day he was born in Vandalia, Illinois. He was the son of Mary and Howard Stokes of Ramsey, Illinois. He grew up fishing, camping, raising animals and picnicking on the family farm with his two older sisters, Mary Lou and Diane, and friends that remained throughout in his life. He graduated from Ramsey High School and continued on to University of Illinois Chicago, and John Marshall Law School. He was a Lieutenant in the Army serving in Korea during the Viet Nam War. Much to his clients delight he was a CPA and an attorney. He...

Carolyn H. Dugan, age 76, of Jasper, Indiana, passed away at 11:08 a.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at home after a lengthy battle with cancer, and is now reunited with her son, Rocky Dugan, who preceded her in death. Carolyn was born in Centralia, Illinois, on February 9, 1945, to William and Inez (Hunter) Rine. She was married to Clifford Dugan for 60 years. She was a graduate of Bluff City High School. She and her husband have owned and operated the Camelot Inn in Jasper since 1975. She enjoyed gardening, bowling, and country dancing. She was also a lifelong animal lover. Surviving are her husband, Cliff Dugan, Jasper, IN, three daughters, Christina (Robert) Pace, Montpelier,...

Russell Lee Arndt, age 73 of Sevierville, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2020. Mr. Arndt was a member of Walden's Creek Baptist Church where he loved to sing many gospel songs, his favorite being "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow". He loved to fish and took his family often. He knew where all the good fishing holes were located.He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Violet Arndt; brothers, Larry (Linda) Arndt, Donnie Arndt, William McKinley, George, Carl Jr., Bobby Elam, and LaVerne; and sisters, Mildred, Etta, and Dolly. He is survived by his wife Alicia Marsengill; brother, Jack Arndt; sisters and brothers-in-law Ruth Ann (Robert) Garrison, Edna Mae (Scott) Alton, Jill (Gary)...

Mike Combs of Naples, Florida passed away peacefully after a long, hard-fought battle with diabetes and its complications on October 17, 2019. He will be deeply missed by his parents, Ron and Phyllis Combs and his beloved daughter Abigail Kennedy Combs. Mike was born May 31, 1970 in Mulberry Grove, Illinois. He moved with his family to Edwardsville, Illinois in the early 1970s where he attended school graduating from Edwardsville High School in 1988. Mike moved to Naples in 1995 to help manage North Naples Country Club along with his parents. He thoroughly enjoyed working at the country club as he befriended everyone he met. He brought many innovative ideas to the business and was...