GOOKINS, William Riley - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

William R. Gookins, age 86, a life resident of the Veedersburg area and a veteran of the Spanish-American War, father of Mrs. Mabel Davis, Covington Rt. 1, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 29, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Danville where he had been a patient since Aug. 11 when he fell and fractured his hip. Born Aug. 4, 1874 in Veedersburg, he was the son of Snoden and Margaret Keeling Gookins. He was married March 17, 1901 to Florence Jane Songer, who preceded him in death in 1957. Mr. Gookins had been a farmer in the Veedersburg area for many years and had moved to Sterling several years ago where he had resided alone. He had served four terms as a Republican commissioner in Fountain County. Mr. Gookins was a member of the New Century EUB Church and the VFW Post. Survivors include two sons, William S. of Attica Rt. 1 and Hardy of Veedersburg Rt. 3; two daughters, Mrs. Mabel Davis of Covington Rt. 1, and Mrs. Grace Hoagland of Veedersburg; and nine grandchildren. The body is at the Fishero Funeral Home in Veedersburg where services will he held at 2 o'clock (cst) Thursday. The Rev. Conley Rowland will officiate. Burial will be in the Bonebrake Cemetery and military rites will be conducted.  --typed by Walt W  

VEEDERSBURG — William R. Gookins, 86, who served four terms as a Fountain County commissioner, died Tuesday at about 10 a.m. at the Veterans Facility at Danville, Ill. He had been a patient there since Aug. 11, when he fell and fractured a hip. Mr. Gookins was born Aug. 4, 1874, in Veedersburg. He married Florence Songer there on March 17, 1905. She died in 1957. A veteran of the Spanish-American War, Mr. Gookins was a Republican, a member of the New Century EUB Church, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include two sons, William S. Gookins of Rt. 1, Attica, and Hardy Gookins of Rt. 3, Veedersburg, and two daughters, Mrs. Mabel Davis of Covington and Mrs. Grace Hoagland of Veedersburg. Funeral services are announced for 2 p. m. (CST) Thursday at the Fishero Funeral Home in Veedersburg, Rev. Conley Rowland officiating. Friends may call after 1 p. m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial with military rites will be in Bonebrake Cemetery. The American Legion posts of Veedersburg and Newtown will participate.  --typed by Walt W