Dr. Edgar Gaskill's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Dr. Edgar Gaskill, age 75 of Charleston and formerly of Effingham, was released from his suffering on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral Services honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston with Reverend Walter Carlson and Reverend Joy Starwalt officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Burial will be on Monday, January 21, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Farnsworth (Mt. Zion) Cemetery in Wayne County near Keenes, Illinois. It is requested that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts in his honor be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church or to Harbor Lights Hospice. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. Edgar was born on January 29, 1937 in Keenes, Illinois the son of the late Allen and Georgia Gaskill. He married Mary Lou Carrico in November of 1967 in Harrisburg, Illinois. He is survived by Mary Lou, his wife of forty-five years; a sister, Edna Pfaff of Keenes, Illinois; two nieces, Karen Pfaff of Ocean Springs, Mississippi and Nancy Greenwalt and husband Brad of Keenes; a nephew, Allen Pfaff and wife Elaine of Keenes; and two great-nephews. Ed was a 1953 graduate of Wayne City High School. He furthered his education at SIU Carbondale and later transferred to the University of Illinois where he attained his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1957. He taught at Newman High School while working toward his Masters of Science Degree at the University of Illinois, which he attained in 1961. He taught at Bismarck High School before accepting a position with the Kansas School District with which he had a long-time relationship. He began his tenure as a high school teacher and later became principal of Kansas High School. In 1968 Mr. Gaskill was awarded a Specialist in Education from Eastern Illinois University and left Kansas to pursue a Doctorate Study at Illinois State University. During this time he served as principal at Lincoln Junior High School and his Degree of Doctor of Education was conferred in 1970. Dr. Gaskill then returned to Kansas in 1971 as Superintendent of Kansas Community Unit 3, a position he held until 1983. During this time Dr. Gaskill's community involvement included the Kansas Lions Club where he served as club president for one term and he also attended the Kansas Christian Church. Ed also assisted his father on the family farm when time allowed. Dr. Gaskill was employed by the Farmers Home Administration in their Charleston, Shelbyville and Carlinville offices and then returned to education, serving as superintendent at Rossville and Reddick Schools. He then went to East Moline Elementary School District and served as business manager, a position he held until his retirement in 1997. In 1997 Ed made his home at Lake Sara in Effingham where volunteer work became his purpose and his passion. He volunteered as a reading teacher for adults and assisted with income tax filing. He volunteered through the Senior Center as a ""Rules of the Road"" teacher and assisted the elderly with money management. The past several years were spent assisting the elderly with insurance problems and helping to write state grants for low income individuals. Ed has been honored as Volunteer of the Year at both a state and local level.
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