Tim Stokes

LICK CREEK, Ill. — Tim Evans Stokes, 94, of Lick Creek died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Marion, Ill.

He was born Feb. 4, 1914, in the Lick Creek area, son of Matthew and Lucinda Keller Stokes. He married Lettie Marie Tucker on June 6, 1959, in Murphysboro, Ill. She died Aug. 8, 1991.

Stokes was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a charter member of the VFW Carroll P. Foster Post 3455 of the VFW in Anna, Ill. He was a charter member of Union Lodge No. 627 AF & AM at Lick Creek and a member of the Anna Star Chapter No. 522.

He loved to play the fiddle, and he traveled all over the Midwest participating in fiddle competitions. He won the senior Illinois State Fiddle Contest four times and won the Illinois State Fair Fiddler's Contest three times. In all, he accumulated 50 trophies and other prizes. He was inducted into the Old Time Fiddler's Hall of Fame in Avoca, Iowa, on Sept. 1, 1996.

He is survived by his brother, Herman, of Lick Creek.

Stokes was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and a brother, Lowell.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. LaRue Parr officiating.

Interment will be in McGinnis Cemetery with graveside military honors by the Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 in Anna.