Submitted by: Dan Rich

Jollie Ray Back

March 21, 1932 - April 22, 2008

South Bend Tribune 4/24/2008
WALKERTON - Jollie Ray Back, 76, of Walkerton, passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, IN, after a sudden illness. Mr. Back was born March 21, 1932, in Magoffin County, KY, to Sewell and Rosie (White) Back, and had lived in the Walkerton area most of his life.

On April 5, 1952, he was married to Olive Wilson, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Linda (George) Truhler of Walkerton and Joni (Bruce) Bubenzer of Noblesville; two sons, Greg (Cindy) Back of Tampa, FL, and Garry Spaid of Winterhaven, FL; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Evelyn Meyers, Opal Owens and Carrie Mann; four brothers, Roger Back, Glasteer Back, Costello Back and Angelo Back. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Shirley and Esther, and by a brother, Ollie Back.

Mr. Back was a former employee for the Town of Walkerton for 38 years and an auxiliary officer for the Walkerton Police Department. He was the first recipient of the Walkerton Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award. He was a charter member of the First Baptist Church of Walkerton, serving as a board member and Sunday school superintendent. He was a member of the former Walkerton Lions Club, the Walkerton Civil Defense, the North Liberty Masonic Lodge #266 F&AM, the Scottish Rite of Indiana Valley of South Bend, was a past member of the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department and had attended the Koontz Lake Missionary Church.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) in Koontz Lake Missionary Church, with Pastor Brian Baughman officiating. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Walkerton. Friends may call Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. EDT at Rannells Funeral Home, Koontz Lake Chapel, and in the church on Saturday after 10 a.m. A Masonic service will be held Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Koontz Lake Missionary Church.