Paul Lester Youngblood (89) of Flora

Paul Lester Youngblood, age 89, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Thursday evening, July 21, 2016, at Flora Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Flora.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, July 25 at Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora, with Pastor Peter Wehrly officiating. Interment will be in Floral Garden of Memories, Flora, with full military honors. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Frank & Bright Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be given to First United Methodist Church, Central Illinois Honor Flight, or Clay County Hospice and these will be accepted at the funeral home. 

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Paul was born May 6, 1927, in Herrin, to Paul and Ruth (Bandy) Youngblood.   He was united in marriage to Vivian B. Gentry on July 30, 1944, and together they celebrated 71 wedding anniversaries.

Paul served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II in Italy and Germany, where he was an artillery scout, earning the rank of Sergeant.  One of his biggest thrills was being one of the first honorees to be aboard the Central Illinois Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Paul worked as an industrial engineer for Sparton Manufacturing; Champion Labs; and Stevens Industries until retirement.  He then went to work for C.E.F.S. as transportation coordinator and was awarded Statewide Employee of the Year. His biggest joy was helping other people which he continued doing by driving the transportation vans for the Opportunity Center and Heritage Woods.  Paul was a member of Flora First United Methodist Church, the Golden Links Sunday School Class, and also served on the church board.  He enjoyed listening to Southern Gospel music and going fishing.  Paul adored his children and grandchildren, enjoying the times they spent together at family gatherings.

He is survived by his wife: Vivian Youngblood of Flora; children: Dennis (Kathy) Youngblood of Flora, Terry (Linda) Youngblood of Effingham, and Gayla (Bryan) Land of Flora; 6 grandchildren: Bekin Youngblood, Leslie Rusk, Zachary (Brittany) Youngblood, Andrew (Amanda) Youngblood, Maleah Land, and Mitchell (Anna) Land; 6 great-grandchildren: Rayden Moore, Sydney Youngblood, Liam Moore, Jase Rusk, Eva Youngblood, and Maximilian Youngblood; along with several nieces and nephews.  He will also be missed by his special companion “Cobey”, a Lhasa Apso.  Paul was preceded in death by his parents; 4 sisters: Lacletia Youngblood, Naomi Beck, Margie Brown, Mary Lou Mead; and twin brother: Luther Youngblood.