Fairbury: John R. Goold, 88, Fairbury, died 4:44 am Thursday, April 12, 2007 at OSF St. James-John Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

Funeral services will be 1:30 pm Sunday, April 15, 2007 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with the Rev. Spencer Homan officiating. Military rites will be conducted at the memorial home. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm Saturday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Inurnment will take place at Avoca Twp. Cemetery, Fairbury, at a later date.

John was born April 4, 1919 at Pontiac, IL the son of Robert Roy and Cora Ella Craig Goold. He married Mary Ellen Wink January 9, 1945 at Fairbury. She survives at Fairbury.

Also surviving are his children; Jay Goold, Fairbury, Ann (Dan) Arendell, Bloomington, Joan Smeltzer, Fairbury, three grandchildren; Leslie Arendell, Christine (John Hansen) Smeltzer and Michael Smeltzer and one great grandson; Nolan Hansen.

He is preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

John was a 1936 graduate of Fairbury Twp. High School; he served in the US Navy on the LST #369 during WWII. He toured in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres and was present at Normandy, Palermo, and North Africa. He was an LST plank owner and was a member of the black gang on his vessel.

John was a lifelong farmer northeast of Fairbury and worked part time as a livestock trucker. He was a member of the Livingston County Farm Service Board; he served on the Livingston County Board of Review for 17 years; a Rotary member; Knoll Lodge member since 1968; charter member of Arrowhead Lodge; Tarbolton Masonic Lodge #351, Fairbury; VFW Post #9789; John Joda American Legion; a 49 year member of the IOOF; LST organization.

The family suggest memorials be given to the Dominy Memorial Library; IL LST Association; VFW; or American Legion.