Harry Varble

Harry Langdon "Lang" Varble, 85, passed away at 4:45 a.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at the Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.He was born on July 6, 1927 in Carrollton, and was the son of the late Ray & Edith (Frech) Varble. Lang proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  Following his military service he attended Shurtleff College in Alton for two years and then attended Lincoln College in Springfield.  White attending school there he also taught at Virden Junior High School and coached the basketball team.  He often recalled one of his fondest memories as being the time their eighth grade team won the state tournament.Following college he worked as a District Manager for Metropolitan Life Insurance Agency in Tulsa, Ok..  After resigning from Metropolitan, Lang moved his family to Jerseyville and opened Lang Varble & Associates Insurance Agency, operating the agency until retiring in 2007 after 54 years in the insurance industry.He married the former Betty Ruth Ridings on Apr. 4, 1947 in Altamont, Il., and they just recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.Surviving are his wife, Betty Varble of Jerseyville; three children & their spouses, Rebecca Ann MacLean of Grayslake, David & Tanya Varble of Jerseyville, and Patrick & Kristy Varble of Jerseyville; seven grandchildren & their spouses, Eddie & Liz Cheatham of Woodridge, Michael & Ann Cheatham of Houston, Tx., Melissa Ann Cheatham of Palatine, Zachary & Amy Varble of St. Louis, Mo., Sara & Adam DeVore of Durham, NC, Jacob Varble & Aly Varble both of Jerseyville; 16 Great Grandchildren; two sisters, Wini Brickley of Carrollton and Maxine Voiles of New Bern, NC.He was preceded in death by his parents, a son in law, David MacLean; two sisters, Harriett Mehrhoff and Vivian Hindelang; and a half brother, Maurice Varble.Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father Patrick Gibbons officiating.Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.Memorials may be given to the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic Schools or to the Panther Athletic Club both of Jerseyville.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home