Ancil Lee Church

Ancil Lee Church, age 77, a resident of Russellville died Sunday, October 28, 2001 at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville. He was born on July 28, 1924 in Nogo, Arkansas, to Lewis Jerome and Beulah Firestone Church. Ancil was a graduate of Russellville High School. In 1939 he joined the Shiloh Civilian Conservation Corps. He married Bernice Edna Fields on November 10, 1941 in Russellvile, Arkansas. He was a U. S. Navy Veteran of World War II serving in the South Pacific. Ancil worked in supply stores on several islands in the Pacific and received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal. After the war, he worked for International Shoe Factory as the packing room foreman and then for Val Mac Industries as hatchery #1 foreman. In 1977 Ancil became a foreman for the Pope County Road Department, retiring in 1989. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, LG Church and his stepmother, Lillie Church. He was a member of the Riggs Hamilton Post of the American Legion and a member of the Grace Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Bernice Fields Church of Russellville; two daughters, Shirley and Tommy Rice of Russellville, Pat and Buddy Martin of Russellville; four grandchildren and their spouses, Thomas Lee Rice and Jackie of Russellville, Beck Zellmann and Jason of Russellville, Michael Le Jamell and J'sha of Russellville, Jeremy Martin of Russellville; great grandchildren, Daniel Lee Rice of Russellville, Ryan Thomas Rice of Russellville, Jacob Jamell of Russellville, Michaela Jamell of Russellville; one brother and sister in law, Rayford Church and Jean of Sacramento; two sisters and brothers in law, Juanita Hamilton and Jim of Stockton, Faye Wade and Jim of Atkins.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at the Humphrey Chapel officiated by Rev. Kenneth Gibson and Rev. Roger Pearce. Burial will be at the Rest Haven Memorial Park at Russellville under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service. Military honors will be provided by the Rogers Rye Post #2283 of the VFW. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist, 1800 South Knoxville, Russellville, AR 72801.

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