Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 7

Decatur, Illinois Thursday, July 2, 1 998 CENTRAL ILLINOISNATIONWORLD A7 ish letters, a quiet lake: lana museum opens in England Macon County Baker DECATUR Christine Rankin Baker, 79, of Decatur died Monday, (June29, 1998) in Decatur Memorial Hospital. VlP" C.C- ,11. 4r ft h-A i v- Obituaries Deaths Listed Decatur, Macon County BAKER, Christine Rankin (Myers), 79, Decatur CARLETON, Merlin "Tex" or "Red," 83, Decatur KRIETEMEYER, Velma Jean (Crowe), 58, Decatur STILES, Anna Belle (Galloway), 91, Decatur Central Illinois MCGAHEY, W. Jean, Charleston MEARS, Joseph 56, Mat-toon PETERS, Doris L. (Johnson), 75, Neoga SHOBE, Edna 87, Mattoon SKINNER, Troy, 83, Morrisonville SPAULDING, Clara Mae (Morgan), 91, Mattoon STORMS, Clarabelle Owen, 71, St.

Elmo WHITTEN, Jess Van, 76, Bingham YAGER, Avis 88, Newton The Herald Review publishes death notices free including date of death and service arrangements. Basic obituaries are published for a flat fee of $15. There are limits on the amount of information included in basic obituaries. Custom obituaries, which include additional information desired by the family of the deceased, are published for $9 per column inch. The obituary desk is open from 3:30 p.m.

to 8 p.m. daily at 421-7969 or 1-800-453-3639. WThe Herald 8c Review will flags beside the names of individuals who have served in the U.S. armed forces. I Associated Press POPULAR ATTRACTION: Some of the first visitors to Althorp Estate crowd around the lakeside Doric Temple that is a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales, Wednesday, at the Althorp estate in rural Northamptonshire.

The ancestral home of the late princess is expecting some 150,000 visitors over the next two months, to see the exhibits in a new museum built by her brother Earl Spencer. GREAT BRINGTON, England (AP) In a school report displayed behind glass, a math teacher writes, "I fear numbers mean little to Diana." Nearby stands a school trunk labeled D. Spencer and a pair of small, well-worn tap shoes mementos of a little girl who grew up to be Princess Diana. About 2,500 people waited in line for more than an hour to see such relics Wednesday the opening day of a $5 million memorial museum at Diana's ancestral home, Althorp House. The opening came on what would have been Diana's 37th birthday.

For many visitors, the place to be on the estate was the small, ornamental lake where Diana lies buried on an island, a bucolic, tree-ringed spot. Mourners laid armfuls of Diana's favorite lilies and white roses at a small temple at one end of the lake, the nearest they could get to her grave site. But some feared the world's most photographed woman, killed in an Aug. 31 car crash while fleeing the paparazzi in Paris, continues to be exploited. "Even in death, she has not got peace," said Isabel Don, crying quietly as she surveyed the stream of passing visitors and helicopters overhead carrying TV crews.

"People will always want more of her." Demand was heavy for the limited number of tickets, called "invitations to visit." Soon after the gates opened at 10 a.m., lines began to form outside the early 18th-century former stable block where many of Diana's belongings are housed. Charles, the ninth Earl Spencer, has been accused of trying to cash in on his sister's memory with the museum. He spent much of the day mingling with visitors, listening to endless stories about "the day I met Diana" and posing for photographs. "I hope you find this appropriate," he murmured. The earl has said profits from the museum will go to Diana's favorite charities, but has not elaborated on what share of the revenues he will use to defray his expenses.

He also has said he expects to open the estate to visitors every summer. Spencer has said he does not expect the venture to make a profit immediately because of the startup costs involved, but that he will give a minimum of 10 percent of ticket sales this year to charity out of his own pocket. "I am producing audited accounts at the end of this year to show exactly how much has been spent and where it has gone," he said in a recent BBC television interview. "I will never profit from Spaulding MATTOON Clara Mae Spaulding, 91, Mattoon, former employee of Stanley Home Products, died Wednesday (July 1, 1998). Services: 2 p.m.

Friday, July 3, 1998, Schilling Funeral Home, Mattoon. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial: Dodge Grove Cemetery, Mattoon. Storms ST.

ELMO Clarabelle Owen Storms, 71, of St. Louis, formerly of St. Elmo, died Tuesday (June 30, 1998). Graveside services: 9 a.m. Friday at Fairview Cemetery, Sefton Township.

No visitation. Arrangements: May-Kessel Funeral Home, St. Elmo. Whitten BINGHAM Jesse Van Whitten, 76, Bingham, former mayor of Bingham, died Tuesday (June 30, 1998). Member: Bingham Southern Baptist Church.

Survivors: sons, Larry Alton; Robert Bethal-to; daughters, Beverly A. Thompson, Pekin; Theresa L. Charlton, Wood River; brothers, Carl, Glen-dale, Lee, Landover, Loren, Ramsey; Casey, Oreana; Billy, Effingham; sisters, Ila Grigg, Decatur; Loretta Bolte, Nokomis; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Preceded by: parents, wife, Georgia Mae, two brothers and one sister. Services: 10 a.m.

Friday, Miller Funeral Home, Fillmore. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial: Glendale Cemetery, Fillmore. Memorials: Bingham Southern Baptist Church.

Yager NEWTON Avis G. Yager, 88, Newton, died Wednesday (July 1, 1998). Arrangements incomplete: Buchanan Funeral Home, Newton. Background checks face gun buyers WASHINGTON (AP) Deer hunters and other sportsmen will have to pass an instant background check before they can buy a rifle or shotgun under a change in a federal gun law that takes effect Dec. 1.

The background check, done on the spot in the gun store, will be the first national screening of hunters, target shooters and others buying long-barreled guns and will be the same as the instant checks now done in many states on would-be handgun purchasers. "There are going to be a few million mighty surprised hunters come Dec. 1," said John Velleco, spokesman for Gun Owners of America, a lobbying group opposed to gun control. Gun merchants, who must explain the new system to prospective buyers, predict startled and angry customers. "Unless they are pretty active in gun issues or very well-read, I bet you the overwhelming majority of gun owners are totally unaware this is going to kick in," said Steve Schneider, owner of Atlantic Guns in Silver Spring, Md.

The instant background check sysm will scan criminal and mental health records, military discharge rosters and other databases to see whether a customer may legally buy a gun. The system will not reveal why a customer has been rejected. If it rejects a would-be buyer, it will put a "hold" on the sale, giving the store and customer three days to assess the problem. If the computer then rejects the buyer again, there is an appeal process. Long guns are used in relatively few crimes, despite the notoriety of recent schoolyard rifle shootings.

"A lot of the multiple slayings are done with long guns," said Bob Walker, president of Handgun Control. "I think there's something both practically and perhaps psychologically to using an AK-47 or AR-15." Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, in Macon County Memorial Park, Harris-town. Memorial services will be held 3 p.m. Thursday in First Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements are Christine Baker by Bnntlinger's Funeral Home. Memorials: American Cancer Society. Mrs. Baker was born in Decatur, daughter of Edward and Edna Blue Myers. She was affiliated with the Second Church of God and retired from Kemper Insurance Co.

She married Earl Rankin in 1936. He preceded her in death in 1961. She married Melvin Baker in 1963. He preceded her in death in 1984. Surviving are her daughter, Ear-line Wisher and husband Ron of Decatur; grandsons, Jeff Wisher and wife Becky of Clinton; Kevin Wisher of Decatur; great-grandchildren Corey and Allison Wisher of Clinton; sister, Irma Riggen of Speedway, Ind; Etta Britt of Neoga; brother, Lester Myers of Decatur; friend, Lloyd Smith of Decatur.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and four brothers. Carleton DECATUR Merlin E. "Tex" or "Red" Carleton, 83, formerly of Decatur, died June 17, 1998, in Norman Oklahoma Regional Hospital following a brief illness. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday in GracelandFairlawn Funeral Home.

Inurnment will be in Graceland Cemetery. The family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society. Tex was born Sept. 10, 1914, in Larned, to Marshall and Mila Stolle Carleton. After graduating from high school in Macksville, he moved with his family to Decatur where he met his future wife, Christine Durbin.

With World War II looming on the horizon, Merlin enlisted in the Army Air Corps' Aviation Cadet training program. Five days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Merlin earned his pilot wings and married Christine in San Antonio, Texas. During World War II Tex flew the B-26 Martin Marauder medium bomber on 68 combat missions in Europe. He served as a flight commander in the 586th Bomb Squadron a key unit supporting the D-Day invasion and subsequent breakout from the beaches. After World War II Tex opted for a career in the Air Corps, where he could pursue his love of flying.

He flew in the Berlin Airlift and often remarked how tremendous an undertaking that aerial lifeline was to the beleaguered Germans. He retired Nov. 1, 1965, as a colonel in the Air Force after 24 12 years of proudly wearing the uniform and serving his country. Tex and Christine moved to Oklahoma in 1966 where he began a second career in the Civil Service. Tex ran base operations at Tinker AFB until April 1977.

Following this second retirement, Tex and Christine enjoyed traveling and time together. Surviving are his brothers, Lyle of Mesa, Dean of Branson, sons, Roger of St. Louis, Richard of Norman, daughter, Sherry (Nelson) of Garden City, six grandchildren. Tex was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Christine. Krietemeyer DECATUR Velma Jean Krietemeyer, 58, of Decatur died 6:15 p.m.

Monday (June 29, 1998) in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Born-Wikoff Funeral Home, Atwood, with visitation 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Arthur Cemetery.

Mrs. Krietemeyer was born in Hammond on April 24, 1940, the daughter of Velma Krietemeyer Willard and Gaither Rouse Crowe. She was employed as a secretary in the Kiel Building for the Decatur School District. She was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church in Decatur. She married Russell D.

Krietemeyer on Jan. 19, 1960. Surviving are her husband; sons, Randy D. Krietemeyer and wife Kathy of Decatur; Ricky D. Krietemeyer and wife Beverly of Salem; brother, James Crowe of Florissant, grandchildren, Brandon, Kenaka, Kristy and Kimberly; mother, of Areola.

She was preceded in death by her father. Consumer group seeks stronger safety warnings for Viagra drug tfk i signed around the world after her death. Jewelry on hand includes Diana's necklaces, tiaras and a crown. In one room, mannequins are dressed in some of the outfits she wore at public functions, together with pictures of her wearing them. Visitors also can see Diana's school uniform and touching home movie footage of her with her brother and two sisters at Althorp.

It includes shots of Diana on a camel at a birthday party and dancing coquettishly as she waves a bright red scarf. Other video exhibits illustrate her humanitarian work and the public reaction to her death. The first draft of Earl Spencer's funeral speech is also displayed the speech in which he questioned the costs of royal life on Diana's spirit. Visitor facilities at Althorp include a restaurant and a souvenir shop. Prices for items range from $8.50 for an address book bearing an image of a white rose to $115 for a crystal tumbler with the Spencer crest.

Some ticket-holders found the sight of Diana's personal effects almost too much to bear. "I was sobbing at the end," said Nancy Emeny, who drove two hours from Solihull with her husband. "I had doubts about her being buried on the island, but it had a very peaceful feeling. The earl has done a great job." the FDA does not routinely forbid people from using a new drug just because they have health risks considered troublesome when the drug was undergoing testing, Temple said. However, some men with heart-related problems may not be good candidates for Viagra, the FDA official cautioned.

For Brintlinger Funeral Home obituaries, visit our web site at www.brintlinger.com. in fling er's A Golden Rule Funeral Home 0ZCATUH M0IIUUEUT WORKS 1 1555 E. Pershing Rd. 9 876-1216 PRICE QUALITY WORKMANSHIP Of rAPuni MONUMENT WORKS ll MAIN OFFICE Since 1920 627 S. 6th St.

Vandalia 618-283-0292 ShefeyvHIa Hantiment Works 3 Marsao 217-7722 tl "-r -in -f ur nrimmniinnniiii i v- Diana's death." Many in the crowd were members of the press, who had to buy tickets through a telephone sales line like everyone else. Among them was Arthur Edwards, a photographer for Britain's Sun tabloid, who photographed Diana throughout her royal life. Even such hardened veterans were moved by the serene lake and the display of personal items. "I miss her," Edwards said as he paused to study the giant stone urn the earl erected on the island. "She was so lively, so down to earth.

I have photographed her on so many birthdays, and this year we are here. I still can't believe it." Diana's sons planned no public appearances on her birthday, and it was unclear how they marked it. Prince William, 16, was on holiday from Eton College and Prince Harry, 13, was still at Ludgrove School. Diana's former husband, Prince Charles, had a full schedule of official engagements, but made no public comments. Earl Spencer also has opened Althorp House, with its collection of family portraits and valuable paintings, through Aug.

30. Nearly 150,000 tickets have been sold at prices ranging from $8.50 for children to $13 for senior citizens and $16 for adults. Items on display include Diana's frothy silk wedding dress by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, and the thousands of condolence books product's label." But Public Citizen discovered that manufacturer Pfizer Inc. had refused to admit into clinical trials of Viagra any men with certain heart-related conditions. Yet men with those same conditions are allowed to take the drug today, and some have suffered heart attacks or strokes.

That's a dangerous double-standard, the advocacy group charged. It urged the FDA to immediately forbid Viagra's use by men with those risk factors. "They designed studies to minimize the chance this drug would have adverse events, and then they threw these people with high risks back in the pool when the drug was approved," said Public Citizen's Dr. Sidney Wolfe. "FDA needs to get a significant amount of blame for allowing" that.

In addition, the FDA should warn doctors to check whether a man's impotence is a side effect of one of more than 60 other drugs known to cause sexual dysfunction before they prescribe Viagra, a $10-a-pill therapy that can cause its own side effects, Wolfe said. As for Wolfe's other complaint, Central Illinois Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Coles County BALLINGER, Tim and Cheryl, Ramsey, girl, July 1. BINI0N, Bobbi, Areola, girl, July 1. St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, Effingham DURBIN, Glen and Ashley, Shelbyville, girl, June 24.

St Vincent Memorial Hospital, Taylorville MERRITT, Joseph D. and Serena (Russell), Pana, girl, June 26. BroMenn Hospital, Normal HENDRICKER, Jeffrey T. and Judy (Weikel), Clinton, boy, June 11. Stiles DECATUR Anna Belle Stiles, 91, of Decatur died Wednesday (July 1, 1998) in Byrdstown, Tenn.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday in Brintlinger's Funeral Home with visitation one hour prior to service time. Burial will be in Macon County Memorial Park. Memorials: Baby Fold or St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Mrs. Stiles was born in Bond County, the daughter of William Franklin and Eurie Johnson Galloway. She married Edward Stiles. He preceded her in death in 1988. Surviving are her daughters, Joan Blaylock and husband Richard of Byrdstown; Wanda Mc-Dougall and husband Charles of Decatur; sister, Ruby Dial of II-liopolis; brother, George Galloway and wife Mary of Dripping Springs, Texas; grandchildren, Teresa Cook, Chuck McDougall and Matt McDougall, all of California; great-grandchild, Emilie Cook.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters and three brothers. Central Illinois McGahey CHARLESTON W. Jean McGahey, Charleston, died Wednesday (July 1, 1998). Arrangements incomplete: Harper-Swickard Funeral Home, Charleston. Wears MATTOON Joseph L.

Mears, 56, Mattoon, died Tuesday (June 30, 1998). Arrangements incomplete: Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, Mattoon. Peters NEOGA Doris L. Peters, 75, Neoga, retired from General Electric died Wednesday (July 1, 1998). Member: St.

Mary of the Assumption Church and American Legion Auxiliary, both of Neoga. Survivors: husband, Fred B. "Bernie," Mattoon; daughters, Gloria Platz, Judy Prater, Jane Thomas and Mary Sterling, all of Mattoon; sisters, Lois Cooper and Lillie Wilkens, both of New Palestine, eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Preceded by: two brothers and one sister. Services: 2 p.m.

Friday, St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Neoga. Visitation: noon to service time Friday with 1 p.m. wake service, Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, Neoga. Burial: Neoga Memorial Cemetery.

Memorials: St. Mary of the Assumption Church or Hospice of Lincolnland, Mattoon. Shobe MATTOON Edna C. Shobe, 87, Mattoon, died Wednesday (July 1, 1998). Arrangements incomplete: Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, Mattoon.

Skinner MORRISONVTLLE Troy Skinner, 83, Morrisonville, farmer, died Wednesday (July 1, 1998). Services: 11 a.m. Friday, Hough Colonial Home, Morrisonville. Visitation: 9 a.m. until service time Friday.

Burial: St. Maurice's Cemetery, Morrisonville. Memorials: MorrisonvillePalmer WASHINGTON (AP) Many men may be taking Viagra to treat impotence that was caused by other pills such as antidepressants and blood pressure drugs, raising the question of whether some could be cured simply by adjusting their prescriptions. The consumer group making that point Wednesday also cited 174 reports of Viagra users suffering side effects, including 31 deaths, in petitioning the government to strengthen Viagra's safety warnings. The Food and Drug Administration remains convinced that Viagra is safe when used by the right men, but said it will consider Public Citizen's concerns.

The drug's label already warns doctors not to prescribe Viagra to men who take nitrate-containing drugs such as the heart medicine nitroglycerin, because the mix can kill and apparently has killed a few men. The FDA also warns that the sudden sexual exertion may be too risky for some heart patients. Pfizer spokeswoman Mariann Caprino said, "There are no new trends that have emerged that would warrant a change in the Births (Chenoweth), Decatur, boy, June 24. FILE, Amy, Tower Hill, boy, June 25. WALKER, Jeremy and Jaylyn Nicole, Decatur, boy, June 25.

CLONEY, James and Tina (Yingst), Decatur, boy, June 27. HANSEN, Edward and Sally (Pohlman), Decatur, girl, June 27. POWERS, Timothy and Carol (Graven), Shelbyville, twin girls, June 27. DENNIS, Ricky and Rachellyn (Robinson), Decatur, girl, June 28. RAPP, Shaun and Melanie (Schafer), Decatur, boy, June 28.

BUNCH, Joel and Shelby (Burns), Decatur, girl, June 30. TAYLOR, Willie and Renee (Whitman), Decatur, girl, June 30. Decatur Decatur Memorial Hospital RODWELL, Elmore and Theresa Tilmon, Decatur, boy, June 27. BR0THERT0N, Michael D. and Beth (Beavers), Taylorville, girl, June 28.

St. Mary's Hospital KAUFFMAN, Christine (Plank), Arthur, girl, June 19. HOUSTON, Quincy and Shawnee Boy- er, Decatur, girl, June 21. MEDLER, Michael and Karista (Etherton), Assumption, girl, June 22. C0ATES, George Jr.

and Gwendolyn Mitchell, Decatur, boy, June 24. MCUM0RE, Timothy and Teresa.