Robert W. 'Bob' Wathen
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Robert W. "Bob" Wathen, 89, of Marion, formerly of Equality, passed away at Parkway Manor in Marion at 10:16 p.m. on Friday, October 15, 2010.
He was born on June 25, 1921, in Equality to Joseph L. and Pet L. (Baldwin) Wathen. Bob married Freda Barnett on June 12, 1944.
He was employed with the U.S. Postal Service for 45 years as clerk and rural carrier and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was a member of the Equality McLain-Glover Legion Post No. 595. He was a faithful member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Equality and served as choir director for the church. Bob served on the Equality School Board for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife, Freda Wathen of Marion; three daughters, Marilyn and Jim Raben of Ridgway, Elizabeth and Carl Wargel of Chesterfield, Mo., and Susan and Bill Kilgore of Dallas, Texas; two sons, Stephen and Alice Wathen of O'Fallon and J.L. and Sue Wathen of Evansville, Ind.; 14 grandchildren, Shelley Person, Erin Wathen, Gabriel Wathen, Matthew Raben, Joseph Raben, Christina Scates, Jordan Raben, Lindsay Wargel, Abby Smith, Brian Wathen, Adam Wathen, Andrew Wathen, Spencer Kilgore and Emma Kilgore; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Cedric, Joseph, John, Charles Wathen; one sister, Rosamond Wathen; and one granddaughter, Sarah M. Wathen.
Visitation for Bob will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, at the Vickery Funeral Chapel in Equality. Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, 2010, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Equality with Father Steven Beatty leading Mass. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery near Equality with military rites by Equality American Legion Post No. 595. Memorials in memory of Bob may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Internet condolences may be made at the Internet site www.vickeryfuneralchapel.com.