Obituary of William James Irwin

Funeral Services for William James Irwin, Jr. of Foley, MO, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield, MO. Rev. Charles Tichacek, associate pastor of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Troy, MO, will officiate with burial in Bethany Cemetery near Foley. Serving as pallbearers will be members of the Winfield/Foley Fire Department. Mr. Irwin, 67, died Saturday evening, October 25, 2008 at his home near Foley. Born October 4, 1941 in St. Louis, MO, he was the son of William James and Leonna Margaret Monroe Irwin, Sr. He was united in marriage on February 23, 1963 in Elsberry, MO to Nancy Jean Jupina. This union was blessed with four children: William, Phillip, Chris and Roma. Mr. Irwin owned and operated Irwin's Groceries and Meat from 1970 to 1989. He later worked as a forklift operator for Drug Package, retiring in 2008. He served as fire chief of the Winfield/Foley Fire Department for 15 years from ------ and as an EMT. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Leonna Irwin, Sr.; and one son-in-law, Brian Stanley. Survivors include his beloved wife of 45 years, Nancy Irwin of Foley; two sons: William "Bill" Irwin III and his wife, Lesia, and Phillip Irwin and his wife, Barb, all of Foley; two daughters: Chris Robison and her husband, Tom, of Winfield, and Roma Stanley of St. Peters, MO; eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and six step grandchildren. He also leaves three sisters: Carole Stopke and her husband, Walt, of St. Peters, Cheryl Gray and her husband, Robert, of St. Peters, and Judith Aubuchon and her husband, Terrence, of Sinton, TX; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Memorials may be made to the Siteman Cancer Center in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 3838 East Highway 47, P.O. Box 253, Winfield, MO 63389. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.