Our Family Serving Your Family
Princeville, Dunlap, Brimfield, Edelstein, Laura, Monica
Also Serving The Wyoming & Toulon Areas

Obituary of Thelma L. DeFord

Dunlap – Thelma L. DeFord, 91, a longtime Dunlap resident, died at 4:17 a.m. Tuesday, October 3, 2006, at Morton Villa Care Center, where she was a patient.

Born October 19, 1914, in St. Elmo, Illinois, the daughter of Vilas and Maggie Buchanan Diveley, she married Wilbert M. DeFord on January 11, 1936, in Peoria, Illinois. He died May 18, 1981, in Pekin.

Surviving are two sons, James (and Mary) DeFord of Pekin, IL, and Wilbert “Willie” (and Joan) DeFord, Jr. of Metamora, IL; one daughter, Mary (and Stan) Bennett of Marquette Heights, IL; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Jack Diveley of East Peoria, IL. Her parents and two brothers preceded her in death.

She was a clerk in the hardware department of S.S. Kresge Company, Peoria, for 20 years, retiring January 1, 1977. She was a member of Peoria County Home Extension Dunlap Unit, Jubilee Needle Circle, and the former North Park Baptist Church, Peoria.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 6, 2006, at Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home, Princeville. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 5, 2006, at Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home. Burial will be in Dickison Cemetery, rural Dunlap.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tazewell County Resource Centers, Tremont, Illinois.

Condolences may be sent to the family by clicking here.