Eugene W. Stotts

Eugene W. Stotts, age 84, of Oquawka, Illinois; passed away at 9:14 a.m. on December 2, 2010 at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa. ene was born on April 10, 1926 in Oquawka, Illinois, the son of Chester McKinley and Vivian Victoria McGraw Stotts. He was reared and educated in Oquawka and attended Henderson Co. Schools. Eugene served in the United States Army during World War II in the 287th Field Artillery. He married Wanda Lee Yancey in November of 1942 in Bowling Green, Ky., she preceded him in death on May 28, 1991. In his early life Eugene worked on oil rigs/grocery stores in Kentucky/the Quad Cities before returning to Oquawka, to join his father at the Stotts Shopping Center. He bought and operated the grocery business for many years selling it September of 1981. Eugene then managed Motel 6 in Peoria, Ill. for several years. He was also a driver for United Armour Service in Iowa for 5 years. Gene obtained his insurance license and sold American Family Insurance several years. He was one of the originators and served on the board at the Schlotzhauer Home in Oquawka. Gene was an EMT and one of the founders of the Henderson County Ambulance service in Oquawka, Stronghurst, Biggsville, Lomax and Gulfport. He was instrumental in the formation of the Henderson County Rural Health Center and Henderson County Health Department. He was a member of Faith Bible Church and was a very religious man. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW posts, Oquawka Masonic Lodge, Kiwanis and the Oquawka Eagles Aerie. He loved to read ,enjoyed fishing and his family. Surviving Gene are his two daughters; Shirley Martinez (John) and Penny Link (Richard) both of Oquawka. Also surviving are six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, one brother Charles Stotts, and one sister Dorothy Dixon both of Rock Island, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters, and one granddaughter Venice Victoria Martinez. Services:A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Oquawka. Interment with military honors will be in Oquawka Cemetery. His family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home in Oquawka. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the Oquawka Ambulance Service or Faith Bible Church.