The Life of EARL CLAUDE DENNIS
Earl C. Dennis, 86, of Rockford, IL died December 8 after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. Born January 26, 1915 in Des Moines, he was the son of John W and Pearl R (Couch) Dennis.
He attended North High School where he was sports editor of the Oracle and an officer of the National Honor Society. He was an all state shortstop of the North High State Champions in 1931 and American Legion State Champions of 1932. He was inducted into North High Athletes Hall of Fame in 1994. He attended the American Institute of Business and Detroit Institute of Technology. He married Vivian L Kephart (North High Class of 1933) on September 4, 1937.
He was employed by Ford Motor Co. in 1935 in Des Moines. He transferred to Detroit in 1941 to work on ordnance and aircraft contracts. He was later transferred to Indianapolis, Dearborn, Louisville and Chicago as Assistant District Manager. He moved to Rockford, IL as District Manager in 1960. He then served as Fleet and Leasing Sales Manager for the Great Lakes & Midwest Regions from 1963 until retiring in 1978.
He was a member of Capital Masonic Lodge in Des Moines, Scottish Rite and Murat Shrine Temple in Indianapolis, Tebela Shrine Temple in Rockford.
Survivors: wife, Vivian of Rockford, IL; three sons and daughters-in law: John (Helen), Belvidere,IL; Stephen (Sandra), Waconia, MN; Roger (Gretchen), Saratoga, CA. Four sisters: Bernice Smith, Des Moines; Margaret Anderson, Mound, MN; Betty (Earle) Duggan, Des Moines; Marilyn (Jim) Wilson, Memphis, TN. There are also five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hamilton''s Funeral Home. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines.
He attended North High School where he was sports editor of the Oracle and an officer of the National Honor Society. He was an all state shortstop of the North High State Champions in 1931 and American Legion State Champions of 1932. He was inducted into North High Athletes Hall of Fame in 1994. He attended the American Institute of Business and Detroit Institute of Technology. He married Vivian L Kephart (North High Class of 1933) on September 4, 1937.
He was employed by Ford Motor Co. in 1935 in Des Moines. He transferred to Detroit in 1941 to work on ordnance and aircraft contracts. He was later transferred to Indianapolis, Dearborn, Louisville and Chicago as Assistant District Manager. He moved to Rockford, IL as District Manager in 1960. He then served as Fleet and Leasing Sales Manager for the Great Lakes & Midwest Regions from 1963 until retiring in 1978.
He was a member of Capital Masonic Lodge in Des Moines, Scottish Rite and Murat Shrine Temple in Indianapolis, Tebela Shrine Temple in Rockford.
Survivors: wife, Vivian of Rockford, IL; three sons and daughters-in law: John (Helen), Belvidere,IL; Stephen (Sandra), Waconia, MN; Roger (Gretchen), Saratoga, CA. Four sisters: Bernice Smith, Des Moines; Margaret Anderson, Mound, MN; Betty (Earle) Duggan, Des Moines; Marilyn (Jim) Wilson, Memphis, TN. There are also five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hamilton''s Funeral Home. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines.