- Date Of Death: April 24, 2006
- State: Illinois
David B. Finney Jr., 86 years, of Virginia, IL died Monday, April 24, 2006 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.
He was born June 15, 1919 in Petersburg, IL; the son of David Bertric Sr. and Christine Masters Lewis Finney. He married Doris Smith in 1946 at Petersburg, IL. He later married Donna P. Dour in 1984 at Manchester, MO and she survives.
He is also survived by two daughters, Catherine Diane Price (husband, Marvin) of Brownsburg, IN and Laurie Beth Beard of Ada, MI; a step-daughter, Letitia Ann Wold (husband, Curtis) of Largo, FL; three grandchildren, Andrea Christine Escorcia of New York City, Jeremy David Beard (wife, Beth) of Chicago, and Kelly Leigh Rizzo (husband, Matt) of Colchester, VT; a step-granddaughter, Samantha Jordan Wold of Largo, FL; a great grandson, Jackson Finney Rizzo; a brother, Richard D. Finney of Toulon; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a son in infancy; a grandson, Paul Edward Beard; a sister, Catherine Anne McDougal; and a brother, Arthur Lewis Finney (surviving wife, Louise of Petersburg).
An eleven year alumnus of Petersburg, IL schools, Mr. Finney graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy at Wayne, PA in 1937, where he spent his senior year on a band scholarship. He attended Illinois College in Jacksonville for one year and graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Pharmacy in 1943, following in his father’s profession. He owned and operated a drug store in Virginia from February of 1949 until his retirement in 1983. He is remembered fondly by the many young people he employed, some of whom he encouraged through college to a career in pharmacy.
He also served with the US Army during WW II in the 80th Medical Corps stationed in the South Pacific Theater including Hawaii, Okinawa and Korea.
Mr. Finney was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Virginia where he formerly served as an elder. He was voted Outstanding Christian Layman in 1969 by the United Church Men of Illinois and served as Chairman of Faith At Work in Central Illinois during 1972-73.
Continuing a family tradition of masonic service, he was a member of the Masonic order since 1944 in Petersburg and more recently was a member and Past Master of Virginia Lodge #544 AF & AM. He additionally held memberships in the Valley of Springfield Scottish Rite, the York Rite bodies in Jacksonville, the Red Cross of Constantine, the Ansar Shrine in Springfield, and the Illinois Valley Shrine Club. He was honored to receive the 33rd degree in Scottish Rite Masonry in 1988. He will be remembered in the Virginia area for his dedication to the Masonic Lodge and especially the Ansar Shrine Circus, which he would annually attend with third and fourth grade area students, organize volunteer chaperones to accompany the students, and served as a model advertising salesman for the annual Circus Book.
A devoted community servant, Mr. Finney was a charter member of the 100 Club of the University of Illinois Foundation, a member of the American Legion, a past president of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, a past president of the former Virginia Kiwanis Club, a former secretary and member of the Passavant Area Hospital board of directors in Jacksonville, formerly served on the board of directors at Petefish, Skiles & Co. Bank in Virginia, and held memberships in several charitable organizations. He served as a volunteer for several years delivering Bread of Love meals in Virginia and as a guide at the A. Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. A life-long die-hard Chicago Cub fan, he was named to the Midwest Edition of Who’s Who in America in 1974-75.
Mr. Finney had a special love of the outdoors and a passion for traveling. Among his many travel experiences, he hiked the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Kahtadin, Maine.
