Russell O. Gaar, Jr.

He was born Aug. 16, 1923 in St. Louis, MO, the son of Russell O., Sr. and Edith M. Gaar. In 1947 he married Helen L. Yates. She preceded him in death in 1992.

Mr. Gaar served in the US Army during WWII as a radar technician at Bellows Field on Oahu, Hawaii.

He retired from Illinois Bell Telephone Company after 40 years of service where he held the position of Intercompany Service Coordination Manager.

He was a member at First United Methodist Church and Telephone Pioneers. Mr. Gaar enjoyed volunteering at Memorial Medical Center as a patient escort and at Kumler Neighborhood Ministries. He was an avid Cardinals fan.

Mr. Gaar is survived his son, Russell E. Gaar of Springfield.

Services will be held Friday, June 8, 2012 at First United Methodist Church with visitation starting at 10 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Kumler Neighborhood Ministries, 303 N. Grand Ave East, Springfield, IL 62702.

Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel is serving the family. Sign the online guest book at www.boardman-smith.net