E. Eloise Alton

E. Eloise Alton

(September 13, 1929 – February 28, 2024 )

E. Eloise Alton , 94, of Tower Hill, IL, formerly of Shelbyville, IL, passed into eternity at 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2024, in Pana Health and Rehabilitation Center, Pana, IL.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville with Rev. Sally Hamon officiating..  Visitation with family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. – noon on Monday in the funeral home.  Burial will be in Tower Hill Cemetery, Tower Hill, IL.  Memorials may be given to Quad County Hospice.

Eloise was born on September 13, 1929, near Macon, IL, the eldest daughter born to Guy Arthur and Telitha Ann (Sutton) Crickman.  Eloise married George F. Alton on February 29, 1948 and they spent 42 years together before he passed away on November 29, 1990.  Eloise was a retired State of Illinois employee retiring in December of 1985 after 26 years of service.  She was a Past President and Life Member of the American Legion Auxiliary; Past Noble Grand and Past Secretary of the Rebeka Lodge; Life Member of the VFW Auxiliary; Past President of the Shelby County Republican Women’s Club; Girl Scout Leader in Tower Hill for two years; member of several Historical and Genealogy Societies; Life Member of the Missouri Wrench Club; Past Newsletter Editor/Publisher for seven years of the Missouri Valley Wrench Club; Life Member, BangBoard Editor/Publisher, Secretary/Treasurer for 13 years and Board Member of the Corn Items Collectors Association Inc.; appointed to membership on the Governor’s Advisory Council by Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie; served as Chairman of the Grass Roots Committee of Lake Land College for the Tower Hill Community; and a member of the former Tower Hill Methodist Church.

She researched her family lines back to the early 1700’s and beyond, when her families entered the United States.  She descended from a great great grandfather, a great grandfather and several great uncles who were Methodist Circuit Riders in Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri.  Two lines went back to the Saxon Kings of the British Isles.  She researched the lines of Alton, Baly, Hochstetler, Crickman, Snyder, Tirey, Ritchie, Sutton, Montgomery (Royalty of the British Isles), Clifton, Knight, Starbuck (Kings of the British Isles), Cauble, and Coffin.  One Knight relative invented the Knight engine which was placed in many cars.  A Coffin relative invented a corn sheller and another Coffin relative was head of the Underground Railroad.  Eloise was proud of her heritage.

Eloise enjoyed making quilt tops and had them quilted by her Amish relatives (Betty Mae, Barbara and Ida). She gave the quilt tops to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a few friends and relatives.  She had many Amish and Mennonite relatives via her marriage to George.  She also enjoyed crocheting and made many doll dresses that were enjoyed by many little girls, both family and friends.  In her later years, she enjoyed making blankets with the Senior Citizens Sewing Group for Head Start and Pregnancy groups. She also made many lap-blankets for nursing homes.

She leaves to celebrate her life her son, Donald “Don” Alton and wife Antoinette “Toni”; daughters, Shirley Sanford and Evelyn Alton; ten grandchildren and their spouses; and 15 great grandchildren who were the delight of her life.  She was especially close to granddaughter, Christy Wafford and husband Jason and their children, Bailey, Laney and Riley.  She also leaves sisters, Elva Gerhold and Rosemary Dagen; and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Eloise was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; daughters, Alice Mason in 2022 and Jane Ellen in 1954;  nephew, David Dagen in 1960; niece, Debbie Dagen in 2016; sister, Trela Virden in 2013; brother, Gene Crickman in 2016; sister-in-law, Jackie Crickman in 2020; and a granddaughter, Tanisha in 2018.