Donald Ray Stanton Sr.'s Obituary
Donald Ray Stanton Sr., age 83, of Centralia, IL, formerly of Pinckneyville, IL, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017 in Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO. Don was born on July 17, 1933 in Pinckneyville, IL, a son to Joseph L.M. and Lena (Gerstenschlager) Stanton. On April 20, 1957 he married his wife of 60 years, Harriet June Bryant at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pinckneyville, IL. and she survives. Don was a graduate of Pinckneyville Community High School and was a varsity letterman for four years in all four sports. He was a graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL and St. Louis University. Don was a veteran in the United States Army having served in the Korean War. Don served as head basketball coach for Pinckneyville Community High School, Canton High School and LaSalle-Peru High School. He was superintendant of Pinckneyville Community High School, Pinckneyville, IL, then Rock Falls High School, Rock Falls, IL, followed by superintendant of schools at Monmouth-Roseville High School, Monmouth, IL. and retiring as superintendant of Centralia High School, Centralia, IL. He was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Centralia, IL, a life member of the Elks Club and past president of Centralia Chamber of Commerce. He loved to play golf, enjoyed working with high school kids, teaching and coaching them and especially loved playing with his great-grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, June; two brothers-in-law, Mike (Sharon) Bryant of Murphysboro, IL and Max Malen of Sterling, VA; two grandchildren, Jonathan Stanton and Brandi (Gerald) Weeks; eight great-grandchildren, William, Ashtyn, Dylan, Gavan, Mya, Cameron, Brentyn and Haydon; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Donald Ray Stanton Jr. and William Michael Stanton; three brothers, Harry Stanton, Robert E. Stanton and Milledge Stanton; four sisters, Dorothy Harrison, Emaline Malan, Mary Allen and Myrtle McDonald. Funeral services will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be in Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL. with military rites performed by Presswood-Daffron American Legion Post #2504, Pinckneyville, IL. Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the donor's choice.
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