Walter C Stokes

Walter C. Stokes, 81, of Edinburg, IL passed away on August 21, 2021.

Walter was born in Edinburg on September 20, 1939 the son of Hiram and Frances (Tomlin) Stokes.

He was preceded in death by his mother (Frances (Tomlin) Stokes) and father (Hiram Stokes), his sister, Margaret A. Stokes, and his son, Walter “Butch” Stokes Jr.  He is survived by his wife, Barbara J. (Jiannoni) Stokes and his daughter, Betty Jo Stokes.  Walter passed away peacefully attended by his wife.

Walter married his beloved wife in 1963 and immediately shipped off to serve his enlistment in the U.S. Army.  Initially stationed in New Jersey, he was reassigned to and served out the remainder of his service in Okinawa, Japan where his son was born.  After his service ended, he returned to his hometown, Edinburg, where he lived out the remainder of his life.  After his enlistment, he worked as a Secretary of State officer for several years where he made many lifelong friends.  In 1977, he and his wife purchased a small motorcycle dealership in Kincaid.  They grew the business, B&J Speed Shop, over the next 30 years, relocating it to Taylorville, Illinois where it expanded and became a fixture of Route 29.  Entrepreneurial in spirit, his businesses included motorcycle, watercraft, power equipment, and used car sales; a trucking business; fireworks sales; and a pet store before he retired in 2005. 

An avid outdoor enthusiast, Walter enjoyed camping and motor sports.  He was a fan of football, NASCAR, and live theater.  He was an expert talker and could (and often did) hold a conversation for hours on any subject from the state of weather to politics of the day.  He had a great sense of humor and fun demonstrated by fireworks shows in his backyard, family boating excursions, and practical jokes (including a rumored outhouse dragged around the streets of Edinburg -- an incident that he would officially neither confirm nor deny). 

As a Master Mason of the local Blueville AF & AM #647 Masonic Lodge for 50 years, and a member of the Shriners, he was dedicated to the charitable mission of these organizations. 

Visitation will be held at Wilson Park Funeral Home, 109 E. Washington St. Edinburg, IL 62531 on Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 1:00 p.m.

Walter will be laid to rest at Edinburg Cemetery.

Notes of Condolences can be mailed to: Stokes Family, 200 E. Washington St. Edinburg, IL 62531

In lieu of flowers, his family asks for charitable donations be made in “Memory of Walter Stokes” to: Shriner’s Hospital for Children, https://bit.ly/3sFiEQI or the Christian County Animal Control (shelter), 300 South Baughman Rd. Taylorville, IL 62568

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter C Stokes, please visit our floral store.