James Russell Straw

  General Notes:

Chestnut Family Tree on www.ancestry.com

1930 Edgar Edgar County, IL
Russell STRAW age 30; married at age 22; IL
Beulah (wife) age 30; born IL; married at age 22; born IL; parents born IL
James (son) age 6 born IL
Charles (son) age 5; born IL
Norman (son) age 3 born IL

Find A Grave Memorial 88956795
Jim was the oldest of 5 children of Rusty and Beulah Straw of Edgar,Ill. He entered the AAF in Jan of 1942. He served with the 485th Bomb group and spent time in Bari and Naples Italy during WWII. He married Helen B. Croll June 17, 1945 and they were married 66 years when she passed away Dec. 21, 2011. They had 3 children, James Russell Straw, Jr., Larry Allen Straw(Deceased) and Linda K. Straw Hudson. They have 5 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson. Pop suffered from Alzheimers and he had a rough way to go the last few months of his life. He was a memeber of the St. Bernice First Baptist Church and Faith Baptist Church in Terre Haute, In. He was a retired machinist a trade he learned in the AAF and a retired TV repairman, he was the greatest man I could have had for a father and I regret not being closer to him in his last few years.
Bio by: Linda K. Hudson

http://www.fristfuneralhome.com/obits/obituary.php?id=159272
Near us is a celestial spirit, who, from the cradle to the tomb, does not leave us ffor an instant, gudies us, protects us as a friend, a brother; will always be a consolation to us especially in our saddest moments." Padre Pio James (Jim) R. Straw, Sr. formerly of St. Bernice, In., went home to be with his Lord and Savior , Tuesday, March 13, 2012. Jim had a long struggle with Alzheimers and had lived at Meadows Manor East for the past four years. He was a machinist by trade and had retired from Columbia House at the age of 62 He became bored, went back to work and retired from Meco in Paris at the age of 69. He also was the owner and operator of Straws TV Sales and Service for many years. Jim was born May 14, 1923 to Charles R.(Rusty) and Beulah M. Straw in Edgar, Edgar Co., Il. He joined the Army Air Force Jan. 5, 1943 and served in Bari and Naples Italy with the 211 AAF Base Unit. He was an auto and aviation mechanic while serving his country. He was also a member of the St. Bernice American Legion for 50 years. He married Helen B. Croll, June 17, 1945 and they were married for 66 years when God called Helen home December 21, 2011. He was a member of the St. Bernice First Baptist Church for years, when they moved to Terre Haute they attended Faith Baptist Church. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Helen, son, Larry,brothers Norman, Wayne, Herman and sister Sarah. He is survived by his son, James and Teresa Straw, daughter, Linda and Joe Hudson, grandchildren, Becky and Lyle Scott, Rusty Straw, Robin and Allan Hardin, Gina and Mike Gordon, David and Lindsey Sanquenetti, and step grandson, Bryan Hudson. He has 6 great grandchildren and one great great grandson. Visistation will be at the Frist Funeral Home at 458 Blackman St., Clinton In Friday the 16th from 5 to 8 P.M. Funeral Services will be held Saturday the 17th at 11A.M. The Rev. James Gibson from Faith Baptist Church will officiate and internment will be Franklin Cemetery, Paris Ill. Military services will be held at the funeral home as well as the Cemetery.

James married Helen Beatrice Croll, daughter of Herbert Allen Croll and Caltha Leona Perisho, on 17 Jun 1945. (Helen Beatrice Croll was born on 22 Apr 1927 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, died on 21 Dec 2012 and was buried in Franklin Cemetery in Paris, Edgar County, Illinois.)

  Marriage Notes:

L K Hudson via e-mail