David Francis Kephart

David Francis Kephart, 73, of Normal, IL, passed away Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 5:45 pm at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington, with his family at his bedside.

His funeral will be at 4 pm Thursday (8-26-10) at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, with Pastor Timothy Roller of Knoxville, TN officiating. Presentation of the flag and rendering of Taps will be performed by the American Legion Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 2-4 pm Thursday at the funeral home.

David was born July 21, 1937 in Davenport, IA, the son of Francis and Vivian (Berrie) Kephart. He married Jacqualyn Goldsberry on November 8, 1964 at the Presbyterian Church in Kahoka, MO.

He is survived by his wife Jacqualyn and children, Joseph (Michelle) Kephart, Joyce (Russell) Richards, David Peter (Maria) Kephart, Andrew Kephart and Claire Kephart; ten grandchildren, Cody, Amanda, Marissa, Sara, Jacob, Samantha, Kendra, Alexandria, David and Nahuel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by six sisters, Judy (Gerald) Sawyer, Nancy (Jack) Edlen, Susan Redding, Gloria (Larry) Kiger, Jackie Boatman, Kelly (Daryl) Varnold; a sister-in-law, Tina Roller; and five brothers, Richard Roller, Kenneth Roller, Tim (Gerry) Roller, Tom (Sally) Roller and Rex (Joan) Roller.

He was preceded in death by his mother; father; step-father Noble Roller; brother Tony Roller; grandson Quinn David Kephart; niece Kari Wright; and brothers-in-law Keith Redding and Jim Boatman.

He graduated from Revere High School, Revere, MO in 1955 and enlisted in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1959. During his married life he attended the University of Arizona, graduating with a MA/BA in Computer Science and completed his doctoral at the University of Kentucky. He taught at Chadron College in Chadron, NE, Morehead State University in Morehead, KY and Illinois State University in Normal where he was actively involved in many parallel duties including the Co-Operative Education Program run by the Applied Computer Science Department. This program afforded many valuable contacts and experiences for the future of the student. He retired a professor from Illinois State University in 1998 after 18 years teaching in the Applied Computer Science Department.

He received many awards and accomplishments during his lifetime. Some included awards from Data Processing Management Association and Society Advancement Management. The accomplishments of his students gave him a great source of pride and satisfaction.

After retirement he helped establish the Vivian Jane Roller Endowment Fund and its association with Missouri Coalition for Quality Care. He also trained for and attained the Ombudsman title. He was assigned to monitor nursing homes in the Bloomington/Normal area as a nursing home patient advocate. His goal was to serve and protect our ‘golden’ citizens, the seniors.

Memorials may be made to the Vivian Jane Roller Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 7165, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

He really enjoyed traveling with his wife, fishing and being around his children and grandchildren. He took the time to listen and mentored many lives about the power of a quality education to achieve knowledge for getting through every day life with your head held high.