Vines, Cecil Howard

VINES, GILLIHAN, PATTEN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/14/2005 at 21:10:08

Funeral services for Cecil Howard Vines, 74, of Pella, who died Friday, June 2, 2000 at the Pella Regional Health Center, were held Tuesday, June 6 at 1:30 p.m. Rev. John McNabb officiated at the services. Jason Vines was eulogist, Judy Steenhoek was organist and Ted Dykstra was soloist.

Interment was at Graceland Cemetery in Pella. Casket bearers were Richard Pitkin, Jeremy Vines, Matthew Pitkin, Wayne Vines, Leo Nikkel and Arden Wilson. Military honors were provided by the Van Veen - Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella.

Cecil was born April 20, 1926 in Oil Trough, Ark., the son of Thomas and Ruth Gillihan Vines. He was the sixth of eight children. While attending high school, Cecil enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April of 1944. He served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was discharged in July of 1946. Following his discharge, he returned to Arkansas and graduated from Grubbs High School with the Class of 1947.

Cecil went on to play minor league baseball for the Chicago White Sox as a center fielder for two seasons. He then enrolled at Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark., where he attended for two years before transferring to Oklahoma (A&M) State in Stillwater, Okla. He graduated with honors in 1952 with a degree in Vocational Agriculture.

During his college days, he married Peggy Jean Patten on August 8, 1950 in Jonesboro, Ark.

Knoxville Journal Express, June 9, 2000