Roberta R. Bodine, 94, of Bonnie died 11:37 a.m. Oct. 30, 2004, at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

She was a sales clerk for various retail stores on the Mt. Vernon square for 41 years. Those stores included Illinois Brokerage, which was owned by Greenburg Corp. out of St. Louis; P.N. Hirsch; and Montgomery Ward. She retired from Dollen’s Shoe Store.

Mrs. Bodine was born Dec. 27, 1909, in Jefferson County to Will and Dora Alice (Reynolds) Vanatta.

She married Jesse D. "Jay" Bodine June 14, 1930, in Mt. Vernon; he died April 10, 1984.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in rural Jefferson County. The Revs. Bob Atchison and Melvin "Buck" Larson will officiate. Burial will follow at Abner Cemetery in Nason.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Jefferson County.

Mrs. Bodine is survived by a son, Billie D. Bodine and wife Barbara of Bonnie; a grandson, William Jay Bodine of Bonnie; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Dora Alice (Reynolds) Vanatta; her husband Jesse D. "Jay" Bodine; a brother, Russell Vanatta; and a sister, Juanita Hester.

Mrs. Bodine was a lifelong member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for more than 60 years. She was also a pianist at the church for many years and occasionally served as the song leader.

She was a member of Local Retail Clerks Union 912 and Jefferson County Home Extension. She received her education from Black Grade School in McClellan Township.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, where you may call 242-3348 for obituary information at any time.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: November 3, 2004
Submitted by: Kiowana Hayes Ferguson