Joseph Wesley Ethridge III

Joseph Wesley Ethridge III\r\nCharleston, IL-Joseph Wesley Ethridge III, age 87, of Charleston, IL, passed away at 10:15 p.m., Saturday, September 22, 2012, at his residence.\r\n\r\nThe funeral service in his honor will begin at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, September 27, 2012, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL, 61938. Reverend Robert Clark will officiate. Interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens with military rites conducted by the Charleston VFW Post 1592. Visitation will be held Thursday, from 10:00 a.m., until the service begins. Masonic rites will begin at 9:45 a.m.\r\n\r\nBorn October 16, 1924, in Springfield, IL, Joseph was the son of Joseph Wesley II and Frieda Marie (Wright) Ethridge. He married Juanita June Weston on November 25, 1944, in Rantoul, IL. She survives. Other survivors include their children, Beverly Jo Phelps of Effingham, IL, Becky Diane Hill and husband Jim of Springfield, IL, Joseph Wesley Ethridge IV, and wife Karen of Charleston, IL, and Frank Edward Smith and wife Cathy of Neoga, IL; four brothers, Floyd Ethridge and wife Kathrine of Corpus Christi, TX, David Ethridge and wife Jonie of East Lansing, MI, Gene Ethridge and wife Shirley of Homer, IL, and Richard Ethridge and wife Nancy of Plainfield, IL; nine grandchildren; twenty-two great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and son-in-law, Barry Phelps.\r\n\r\nA veteran of World War II, Mr. Ethridge served our country with the United States Air Force. He retired from Wilb Walker Supermarkets in 1990 after having served 41 years as employee, manager, corporate officer, and part owner. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mattoon; a former member and past president of Mattoon Rotary Club, where he was honored as Rotarian of the Year in 1971; a member of the Charleston Elks Post #623; a member and past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star; a member of the Ansar Shrine and member and past president of the Corn Belt Shrine Club; a 20 year member and past chairman of the Salvation Army advisory board; past director of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce; past president of the Lincoln School PTA; and a member of the Charleston Area Bicentennial Commission. He was a 50 plus year member and past master of the Mattoon Masonic Lodge #260, a dual member of the Charleston Lodge #35 A.F. & A.M., and a Danville Scottish Rite Mason since 1959. He served as a District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois and served as Sovereign Prince of the Chapter and Commander'in-Chief of the Consistory. In 1973, he was coroneted a 33rd Degree Mason by the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite. \r\n\r\nMemorials in his honor may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children'-St. Louis, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63131.\r\n\r\nPlease visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with his family. \r\n

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Joseph Wesley Ethridge III

October 16, 2024 - September 22, 2012