William “Wayne” Ninness

William “Wayne” Ninness, 93 passed away on September 1, 2024, at the Marion VA Community Living Center with loving family members surrounding him.

He was born January 18, 1931, and raised by various family members after the death of his mother, Telitha.  Wayne’s father, William Thomas Ninness went on to marry again to Hazel Ninness and Wayne lived with them for a short while before joining the Navy. Wayne was in the Navy for four years.  Served on the Destroyer USS Caperton during the Korean War.

After he finished his tour of duty in the Navy, he married Gail E. Cavanaugh in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.  They moved to Southern Illinois to his parent’s home for a short period.  After a few weeks moved to Marion, Illinois, after which he enrolled in the VTI for diesel engine schooling.  After VTI he worked for Blankenship in the machine shop, later worked at Fabic Machinery as a diesel mechanic.  After many years he was hired at Will Scarlet Mine as a diesel mechanic and Yuke Truck driver.

He has been married for over 68 ½ years to Gail and have sons, Bill (Donna) Ninness, Thomas (Jennifer) Ninness and Ross Ninness and daughter Telitha (Terry) Allen, grandchildren Stephanie (Jason) Briscoe, Jessica Ninness (Mike Delahanty), Tyler Ninness, Daniel Ninness, Alyssa (Israel) Lopez, Jacob Ninness, Samantha Allen (finance Ian Perry), and great granddaughter Aria Lopez and one great grandson on the way.

Wayne loved to garden and fed everyone in the neighborhood including his family with his ability to grow a huge garden.  He also liked to camp and fish with his family and spent many summers at the Lake of Egypt campground.  Wayne and Gail enjoyed sharing their love of travel around the US with their children visiting many states that their relatives lived in (i.e., Hood River, Oregon, Orlando Florida, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, even taking a trip to Niagara Falls, Yellowstone national Park, and Mt. Rushmore.)

Wayne was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, where he and Gail raised their family.

Wayne was a man who was about his family and teaching his children on how to work on cars, remodel a house, do yard work, and garden.  He loved his family.  Wayne will be missed by many but some of his close friends are already there greeting him with open arms as he enters those gates.  He will finally get to meet his mother and the other family members that have gone on before him.  Wayne will be remembered by his family dearly.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion.  Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 A.M. Interment will follow in Rosehill Cemetery in Marion. Binkley-Ross Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.