LEWISTOWN, IL - Retired Lt. Col. Robert E. Justice, 72, of Valparaiso, Fla., formerly of Lewistown and Mason County, died Monday, Sept. 22, 1997, in Pensacola, Fla.

Born March 11, 1925, in Springfield to Roy and Nelda Williams Justice, he married Vivian Genre in 1964 in Cincinnati. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Robert Jr. of Los Alamos, N.M., and Albert of Romeo, Mich.; two daughters, Linda Justice of Springfield and Ellen Justice of Austin, Texas; five brothers, Roy Gilbert and John, both of Easton, Wilbur of Kilbourne , Guy of Beaumont, Texas, and Harold of Oakford; four sisters, Marjorie Stockham of Kilbourne, Wanda Snyder and Shirley Justice, both of Oakford, and Donna Dale of Allen, Okla.; and two grandsons. One son, Jonathan, one brother and one sister preceded him in death.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, he enlisted in the Army on May 8, 1945, and was commissioned on April 16, 1952. He retired as a lieutenant colonel on Feb. 29, 1972. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star.

He later farmed on several farms in Missouri, Mississippi and Illinois for 20 years. He was a former member of the Fulton County Board.

He was a member of Niceville Methodist Church in Niceville, Fla.

He also was a member of Chandlerville Masonic Lodge; Scottish Rite and Hadji Shrine, both in Pensacola, Fla.; Northwest Florida Retired Officer's Club; and Lewistown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5001. Cremation has been accorded. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lewistown First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Jay Curry will officiate. There will be no visitation. Burial of ashes will be in Kilbourne Cemetery in Kilbourne. Henry Memorial Home in Lewistown is in charge of local arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Journal Star (Peoria, IL) - Thursday, September 25, 1997

Robert Justice (1925)