Ilo S. Meek

Ilo S. Meek

96, a resident of Prairie Grove, Arkansas passed away September 15, 2007 at the Medi Homes Nursing Home in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was born March 11, 1911 in Indian Territory near what is now known as Waynoka, Oklahoma in a sod house. He was the youngest son of David Alonzo and Mary Elizabeth Woodbury Meek.

Ilo graduated from Vinita High School in Vinita, Oklahoma in 1930. He started working for the local telephone company, then Southwestern Bell Telephone, transferring to AT&T in 1940. During World War II he was assigned to building communication lines from Alberta Canada to Fairbanks, Alaska. Upon Returning to the United States in 1944 he was a Material Supply Man for the 5th District of AT&T for the coaxial cable being installed all over the country at that time. He transferred to Southwestern Bell Telephone again in 1948 in St. Joseph, Missouri, retiring in 1971 following a stint with New York City with the Test Board where he was assigned for wiring in a new system of cable dropped across the Atlantic to Great Britain. His combined service between AT&T and Southwestern Bell accounted for 41 years of service with no days lost for illness or tardiness.

He was a past Deacon of the First Baptist Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was a 33rd Degree Mason with the Valley of St. Joseph Orient of Missouri and a member of Areme Chapter # 461 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elnor Lee Cook Meek, second wife, Lillian Hastings Meek and third wife, Estella Walkup Meek. Also preceding him were five brothers, Frank Cornelius Meek, Everett L. Meek, Earl Meek, Virgil Meek and Alonzo Russell Meek, three sisters, Hallie Meek Hockett, Mary Elizabeth Meek Owens and Margaret Jane Meek Williams.

He is survived by his only child, Dorothea Coleman and her husband, Nelson of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; his grandchildren, Toni and Jim Cox of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Doug and Barbara Coleman of New Market, Maryland Neena and Lewis Gober of Springdale, Arkansas, Jess and LaDonna Coleman of Morrow, Arkansas and Tammy and Steve Beaver of Goshen, Arkansas; ten great grandchildren, Sarah Young of Dallas, Texas, Michael Maddan and his wife, Cathy of Kansas, Oklahoma, Mallary Noggle and her husband, Patrick of West Fork, Arkansas, Tyler Beaver of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jacob Beaver of Goshen, Arkansas, Candice, Julie and Jesse Coleman all of Morrow, Arkansas, Hadley Grace of Springdale, Arkansas and Maxwell Coleman of New Market, Maryland.

Funeral Service will be held Wednesday September 19, 2007 at 3:00 P.M. at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Arkansas with burial in St. Joseph Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri

MEMORIALS:
Family ask in lieu of flowers memorials be made to a charity of your choice

Arrangements are under the direction of the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. To sign the online guest book, visit www.luginbuel.com