Robert Nolen

Robert S. "Bob" Nolen, 89, of Carmi, passed away Tuesday at 12:10 p.m. at Phoenix Nursing and Rehab in Carmi. He was born June 5, 1924 in Emma Township in White County, IL, on the Wadena Farm the son of the late Noble A. and Lena (York) Nolen. He was a member of the 1942 graduating class of Carmi High School. Soon thereafter, he entered into the service of his country serving in the US Army's 370th Field Artillery Battalion attached to the 99th Infantry Division, serving in the European Theater during World War II seeing action in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon completion of his military service, he attended and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Agriculture. He then returned to Carmi and was an adult education teacher for veterans before starting Nolen Farm Management Service in 1950.

He was a faithful member of Carmi First United Methodist Church for almost 75 years where he was always willing to lend a helping hand. He was a member of the American Legion and a life-long member of the Carmi VFW. He joined the Carmi Masonic Lodge #272 in March 1947 and was also a member of the White County Farm Bureau, a past member of the American Society of Farm Managers, and the Illinois Society of Rural Appraisers. Bob was elected to the Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in March 1975 and served as its President for 5 one-year terms from 1976 through 1981. He also was active in many other movements and organizations affiliated with, and devoted to, improvement of life in rural America.

He married Marilyn Finch Nolen on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1947 and they celebrated 65 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on August 2, 2013.

Bob is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Melinda and Ron Wooten of Carmi; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jay Nolen and Tim and Jenny Nolen all of Carmi; a sister, Joyce Edens of Farmington Hills, Michigan; a brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Wanda Nolen of Prospect Heights, IL; three grandchildren, Tyler (Jill) Wooten and Brady (Jessica) Wooten all of Carmi and Brian (Alison) Nolen of Charlotte, North Carolina; and three great-grandchildren, Everett Nolen, Avery Wooten and Sarah Wooten.

Funeral Services for Robert S. "Bob" Nolen, 89, of Carmi will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Carmi First United Methodist Church with Rev. Beckie Laumeier officiating. Burial will be in Big Prairie Cemetery near Carmi with Military Rites by Carmi VFW and American Legion. Friends may call at Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. The family request Memorial Contributions be made to the Carmi First United Methodist Church and will be accepted at Campbell Funeral Home.