Darlene Frances (Knop) Pillers (85) of The Villages, Florida, formerly of Effingham

Darlene Frances (Knop) Pillers, 85, of The Villages, Florida, formerly of Effingham, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, at Lake Harris Health Care Center in Leesburg, Florida.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 29 at First Presbyterian Church in Effingham. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to either the Salvation Army or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Darlene was born on November 28, 1933, in Randolph County, IL, the youngest child of Charles and Caroline (Mahan) Knop. She graduated from Sparta Township High School. On March 23, 1951, she married Robert Harvey Pillers, and he preceded her in death on August 6, 2009.

She was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church in Effingham, and a member of Hope United Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers, Florida.

Darlene loved playing tennis, bridge, and especially golf, and was the ladies club champion at both the Sparta and Effingham country clubs for many years.

She is survived by her three children: Robert E. (LouAnne) of Kendallville, Indiana, John (Pam) of Lodi, California, and Dena Kay (Drew) Hayes of the Villages, Florida; Grandchildren, Kacey (Chris) Bennett of Westminster, Colorado, Dr. Amanda (Andy) Dick of Seymour, Indiana, Melissa Hayes, of Norfolk, Virginia, Jared (Amy) Hayes of Summerville, South Carolina, Lindsey (Brent) Stevenson of Indian Hills, Colorado, Dr. Sara (Scott) Danesi of Sleepy Hollow, Illinois, and Rob (Courtney) Pillers of Avilla, Indiana. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Ireland Bennett, Jack and Sloane Stevenson, Claire and Chloe Pillers, Sullivan, Elin, and Finn Dick, and Alex and Louis Hayes, and sisters-in-law, Betty Frazier of Sparta, Illinois, and Sandy Pillers of Baldwin, Illinois, and niece, Betty Clark of the Villages, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Ray, Vernon, Ralph, and Harold Knop and sister Laverne Bixby.