PEKIN ~ Louis Vernon Compton, 87 of Pekin passed away at 8:13 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at his residence.
Born July 12, 1925 in Washington County, IN to George F. and Maude (Green) Compton, he married Mary Ellen Hayes on September 27, 1947 in Lawrence County, IN. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Warren (Gayle) Compton of Selawik, AK, Randall (Crystal) Compton of Fairbanks, AK; two daughters, Elizabeth (Joe) Crane of Bedford, IN, Alyce Joyce Compton of Eureka, CA; nine grandchildren, Noelle Crane of Bedford, IN, Adam (Charity) Compton of Troy, MO, Danielle (Scott) Wallace of Vernal, UT, Bethany and Caleb Compton of Selawik, AK, Paige, Kent and Lauren Compton of Fairbanks, AK and Marcie (Alex) Bourne of North Pole, AK; eight great grandchildren Brooke, Ethan, Jonathon Compton, all of Troy, MO, Aiden, Elisha and Isaiah Wallace, all of Vernal, UT and Summer, and Isla Bourne, both of North Pole, AK.
He was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
Louis was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Pekin where he had been an interim pastor.
He served as a weatherman in the United States Army Air Corps from 1945 until 1948 where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 35 years, retiring in 1991. Prior to this, he worked as a machinist for Perfect Circle Piston Rings in Hagerstown, IN.  Louis was also an interim Pastor for several churches in IL, IN and OH.
Louis loved aviation and talking about the Arctic. He also enjoyed fishing, reading and was an avid gardener.
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday August 11, 2012 at Liberty Baptist Church in Pekin, where visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral. The Rev. Dr. Tim Najpaver will officiate.
Additional services will be at 2:30 p.m. EST Monday, August 13, 2012 at White River Baptist Church in rural Bedford, IN where visitation will also be prior to the funeral. Pastor Lindy Hopkins will officiate. Burial will be in White River Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to Liberty Baptist Church, 2105 Sheridan Rd., Pekin, IL 61554.
Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com