Duard E. Oxford

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Duard E. Oxford, 78, of 3502 Wren Lane, Rolling Meadows, formerly of Shawneetown, passed away at 12:45 a.m. Friday, June 12, 2009, at his residence.

He was born in Cave-In-Rock on March 3, 1931, to Winfred and Pearl (Browning) Oxford.

Mr. Oxford served his country in the Army and was wounded in Korea, receiving a Purple Heart.

He was a pilot who enjoyed flying with his friends. Duard also took many road trips on his Gold Wing with his beautiful wife seated right behind him. He spent many hours designing and building beautiful and intricate wood creations. Duard was an inventor who built several useful tools and unique gadgets to help out his family, friends and church.

He was a member of Brentwood Baptist Church for 36 years and a member of the Chicago Wood Turners. He retired from the Post Office.

Duard was the beloved husband of Ruby H. (Porter) Oxford; dear father of Don (Debbie) Oxford, Gail (David) Kook, Ruth Swinford, Roger Oxford, Marla (Tim) Forst and the late Ron Oxford; cherished grandfather of Shawn (Jill), Jennifer (Phil), Dustin, Bethany, Tommy, Christy, Chris, Nick, Kevin and Shannon; loving great-grandfather of Maci, Layton, Shaynna, Carson, Colman, Kristen, Kallie, Chris and Caleb; and fond brother of Morgan Oxford, Sadie Clark and Helen Jones.

Visitation for Duard will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at the Vickery Funeral Chapel in Shawneetown. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 17 at the funeral home. Military rites will be provided by the Ridgway American Legion Post No. 596 with burial at Westwood Cemetery near Shawneetown. Internet condolences may be made at the Internet site www.vickeryfuneralchapel.com.