Obituaries 2/23

The News-Courier will publish, free of charge, death notices including the name, age and city of residence of the deceased, date and place of death, and time and place of funeral services and visitation.

Family members now may express themselves in a eulogy, list survivors and give detailed biographical information about the deceased in a paid obituary. The News-Courier will accept these paid items from the family, funeral directors, or other individuals. Paid obituaries may include a photo at no extra charge.

If a published obituary contains an error, The News-Courier will reprint a corrected obituary at no charge, provided the error was ours. The News-Courier does not issue refunds on obituary announcements.

For pricing information, call Vanessa McKee at The News-Courier, 232-2720.



Virgil Bedwell

The funeral for Virgil Bedwell, 92, of Athens, formerly of Foxworth, Miss., will be at 1 p.m. today at Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia, Miss., with Mayburn Crews officiating. Burial will be in Bedwell Cemetery.

Mr. Bedwell died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, in Athens.



Jerry M. Eastup

Jerry M. Eastup, 24, of Athens, died Feb. 24 at his residence. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements at a later date.



Isaac C. Oaks

Isaac C. Oaks age 81, of Portage, Ind., passed away Friday, Feb. 17, 2006.

He was born May 21, 1924, in Rogersville, the son of William H. and Anna E. (Belue) Oaks. He was an Athens High School graduate and was employed as a crane operator for U.S. Steel for 35 years. He was a member of Steelworkers Union Local 1014 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a paratrooper.

He was a member of the Church of God on Brandt Street in Portage where he served with his wife, Rebecca in many capacities. He was a deacon and treasurer of the church, together they had a special ministry if visiting people in hospitals, nursing homes and going to people’s homes to pray with them and to provide whatever their needs might be. Ike was married to Rebecca McCurry in Athens on Aug. 22, 1948, and together they started their life of serving their Lord.

They were blessed with son Isaac “Neal” (Karen) Oaks, of Sioux City, Iowa, daughter Anna Denise (David) Allen, of Portage, grandchildren Ruth Ann Frey, Todd Summar, Maria Oaks, Michael Allen and Neil Polyak, great-grandchildren Tia and Kia Frey.

He is also survived by brother Henry (Sue) Oaks of Alabama; sisters Helen (Abernathy) Vickers, of Alabama, Bobbie Pressnell of Alabama, Peggy (Steve) Read, Louisiana and Anna Jean (Ed) Murphy of Alabama; sisters-in-law Madge Black, Ruby (Clifford) Pratt and Hazel Oaks, all of Alabama; nieces and nephews, other family members and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Hiram Oaks, nephew Gale Oaks and infant sister Marie Oaks.

Ike enjoyed woodworking and he would turn any object he found into useful inventions to be used around his home.

A visitation and funeral was held Tuesday at Engel Funeral Home, in Portage, Ind., with Pastors Jack Anderson and Larry Riggs officiating.

There will be a visitation Thursday at McConnell Funeral Home from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with a graveside service at 2 p.m. at Roselawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Porter County VNA, 5195 Marquette, Valparaiso, Ind. 46383. For more information call Engel Funeral Home at (219) 762-8595.