Harry "Butch" Virden

Born January 8, 1943 in Pekin to Harold Earl and Elsie (Yetter) Virden, he married Karolyn Sue Miller on December 21, 1963 at Faith Baptist Church in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Erech (Molly) Virden of Pekin; two daughters, Tiffany (Chris) Haynes of Bartlett, Tennessee and Misti Salter of Memphis, Tennessee; four grandchildren, Staff Sergeant Christopher “CJ” (Manny) Haynes of Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, Senior Airman Connor (Kaitlyn) Haynes of Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, Madison Virden and Harrison Virden, both of Pekin; three great-grandchildren, Jaxon Haynes, Tate Haynes and Kiley Haynes and one sister, Joyce (Judge Richard “Dick”) Eagleton of Peoria.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, George Virden.

Harry was a firefighter with the Pekin Fire Department and proudly served the City of Pekin for 25 years beginning in August of 1977. He also owned and operated Advantage Water Hauling for many years.

An avid golfer, Harry was devoted to his family and especially his grandchildren. He loved to travel.

He was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Groveland, where he had served as an usher. He was a former member of Faith Baptist Church in Pekin and had served the church there as a Deacon. Harry was a retired member of Pekin Firefighters Local 524.

His funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, October 11, 2024 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Dick Brienen will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin. Honors will be provided by the Pekin Fire Department Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pekin Firefighters Local 524, P.O. Box 93, Pekin, IL 61555 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com