William David Champion

William David Champion, age 99, passed from Life to Life on August 15, 2025 at 3:50 am at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. A funeral service in his honor will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, located at 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938; Pastor Dan Laack will officiate. Burial will immediately follow in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Mattoon, IL with Military Rites performed by Mattoon VFW Post 4325. A visitation will be held Friday evening, August 22, 2025 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the funeral home. David was born in Mattoon on December 1, 1925, the son of Horace Edward Champion and Mary Williams Champion. He married Marbelle June Whitley on May 26, 1945 at the First Baptist Church in Mattoon. She preceded in him death in 2004. He is survived by two children: Wm. David Champion, Jr of Tierra Verde, FL and Jane Orman and husband Wesley of Gays, IL.; five grandchildren; Becky (Scott) Quinlan of Rantoul, IL, Teri (Jeremy) Jordan of Jefferson, GA, Bobby (Courtnay) Orman of Windsor, IL, Phillip (Cindy) Orman of Dunlap, IL, and Marylee Orman of Gays, IL; ten great-grandchildren; Cale and Finley Jordan, Emma, Anna and Brady Quinlan, Jacque and Magnus Orman, Brenlee, Liam, and Emmalee Orman and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded by: his parents, brother Richard Champion, sister Alice Nelson and Daughter-in-law Dij Champion. David was a veteran of the Army Air Corps and served in WWII. He maintained radar equipment on B25’s in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He was thankful to attend the Honor Flight in 2011, escorted by Dennis Ray. He spent most of his life as a grain and livestock farmer but also drove trucks for Warren Grain and Miller & Overton Trucking. Later in life he delivered school buses and was a greeter and funeral attendant for Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home. He spent his time serving others as a 4-H leader, President of the Coles Moultrie Electric Coop Board, and Secretary/Treasurer of Soyland Power Coop. He was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church of Mattoon, and a member of the Champion Sunday School Class, and served as a head usher, a confirmation class mentor and on other numerous committees. Raising Quarter Horses, snow and water skiing, target shooting and playing music on his keyboard were some of his many passions. He loved many and was loved by many. Memorials can be made to The Way Church of Fayette County, PO Box 37, Vandalia, IL 62471. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family.

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William David Champion

December 1, 1925 - August 15, 2025