Bill Isom
Bill Isom, 89, of Charleston, died Monday, March 14, 2016, at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Mr. Isom was born Billy Victor Isom on July 25, 1926, in Dongola, the son of James and Atta Montgomery Isom.
He married Regina Ulrich on Feb. 21, 1953.
Mr. Isom is survived by a daughter, Andrea Hoffman and husband Frank of Bloomington; a son, Carl House and wife Bonnie of Brewster, Wash.; three grandchildren, Garrett Hoffman of Bloomington, Jessica (Dan) Johnson of East Wenatchee, Wash., and Carrie (Jeremy) Bonner of Wenatchee, Wash.; and three great-grandchildren, Michael and Kaitlyn Bonner and Riley Moser.
Mr. Isom was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Kathleen (Kay) Larimer; a brother, Gilbert Isom; and a nephew, Jimmy Joe (Carolyn) Isom.
He served in the U.S. Army’s 61st Artillery Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division and was a Korean War veteran.
He received his bachelor of science and master of science in education degrees from Southern Illinois University and a master of science (library science) degree from the University of Illinois. He pursued additional study and higher education at Southern.
He was a member of the Illinois Library Association, Phi Delta Kappa (an international association for educators) and Phi Kappa Tau (a national society fraternity) for over 50 years.
Mr. Isom was a faculty member in library services at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston for 30 years and was head of circulation services at Booth Library at Eastern during 24 of those years.
He also held several other positions in different types of libraries (school, public, state and university) for a combined total of more than 40 years. He retired from Eastern as a professor in library services.
For five years following his retirement, Mr. Isom served as a part-time faculty member in library services at Eastern.
During his retirement he also served as an election judge for Precinct 18 in Charleston and worked part-time in Eastern’s textbook library.
Graveside memorial services honoring the life of Mr. Bill Isom will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 17, at the St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Grand Chain. A luncheon will be served at noon at the Grand Chain School.
To leave an online message for the family or to share a memory, visit www.wilsonfuneralhome1928.com.
Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.