Lester W. Cox, Sr., 94, of Marseilles, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, on Thursday August 4, at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday August 8, at the Marseilles First Church of God with Rev. Brian Hefner officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles with Military Honors by the Marseilles Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

He was born September 11, 1921 in Taylor County, Kentucky to Willis and Cathrein (Thomas) Cox. On April 5, 1941, he married Bonnie B. Campbell of Casey County, KY who preceded him in death in 2012.

Lester was a lifelong member of the Marseilles First Church of God. He served in the Army during WWII in the Guadalcanal Campaign in the Pacific Ocean Theater of Operations, received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with one campaign star and a Bronze Star Medal with an oak leaf cluster, which denotes a second award. He was employed by Nabisco until his retirement in 1982. He loved fishing and hunting and held a world record for a Muskie.

He is survived by one daughter, Carolyn Sue (Larry) Gates of Marseilles; one son, Lester Jr. "Billy" (Christina) Cox of Ottawa; five grandchildren, Leslie (Debbie) Patton, Randy Patton, Julie Patton, Cheri (Dean) Gumm & Kristi (Tim) Wig; five great-grandchildren, Joshua Burzynski, Tyler Wig, Amy & Stefany Gumm, and Danny Barker; and one sister, Shirley Sokn of Marseilles.

He was preceded in death by five brothers, George, Edwin, Jonny, Willis and Robert; and three sisters, Frances Bland, Perna Bookout and Violet Adams.

Memorials may be directed to the First Church of God.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters.

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home
1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341
815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com