Barbara Mackie Feltham, 94, of rural Williamsfield, died at 5:30 p.m., Friday, February 1, 2019 at her home on the farm where she was born.
In accordance with her wishes, she has been cremated. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 9 at the Williamsfield United Methodist Church, 430 N. Chicago St., Williamsfield, IL 61489. Pastor Jennifer Seder will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in Parker Cemetery, adjacent to the Feltham farm. Memorials may be directed to the Williamsfield United Methodist Church. Rux Funeral Home in Williamsfield is in charge of arrangements.
She was born January 30, 1925, the daughter of Eldrid Waverly and Bernice (pronounced “BURR-niss”) (Cook) Mackie. Her older brother, Sergeant John Curtis Mackie, U.S. Army Air Forces, was killed in the crash of a B-26 “Marauder” on March 6, 1944. She married Kenneth William Frederick Feltham, a career U.S. Air Force officer, on November 11, 1949 in Williamsfield. He retired as a colonel, after over 33 years of active service, and preceded her in death on December 9, 1997. She is survived by her son, Colonel John Frederick (Nancy) Feltham, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret); her grandson, John Carlos Laguana Feltham of Wheaton, IL; and her granddaughter, Anna Barbra Laguana Feltham, also of Wheaton.
After attending a one-room school near her family farm, she graduated from Williamsfield High School in 1943. She then attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1947. While at Bradley, she was a member of the Women’s Self-Governing Board, the Home Economics Club, the “Polyscope” (yearbook) staff, and a founding member of the Illinois Theta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi sorority. After graduating from Bradley, she taught Biology and Home Economics at high schools in Henry, Glasford, and Elmwood, IL, until her marriage in 1949. She relocated 13 times during the course of her husband’s Air Force career. Following his retirement, they moved to her farm near Williamsfield. She cared for her husband for over 17 years after he was disabled by a stroke in 1980.
She was a member of the Williamsfield United Methodist Church, where she served on the Administrative Board. She was also a member of United Methodist Women; the American Legion Auxiliary; Spoon River Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution; the Knox County Farm Bureau and Illinois Agricultural Association; and the former Williamsfield Home Culture Club. She was very proud of her son and her two grandchildren, both of whom followed in her footsteps by graduating from Bradley University. She also took great pride in her farm, making numerous improvements to it over the past four decades. This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.
