Julia “Catherine” Bentley Sloman, 101, of rural Pawnee, died on Nov. 11, 2014, at Wyndcrest in Rochester.
The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. on Nov. 16, at First Baptist Church of Virden, with a memorial service to follow at 2:30 p.m. The Pastor Joseph Ferreira and Pastor John Parrish will officiate.
Mrs. Sloman's body has been donated to SIU School of Medicine, and she will be buried at a later date in the Morrisonville Cemetery in Morrisonville.
Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Sloman was born on May 29, 1913, the daughter of the late Denman and Maude Bentley. She grew up in the Lincoln area, graduating in 1931 as salutatorian from Lincoln Community High School. She later attended Blackburn College in Carlinville, graduating in 1937.
She married Wheeler Sloman on March 9, 1941, and he preceded her in death. They owned a farm south of Pawnee where her husband's grandparents had settled in 1878.
A woman of faith, she was generous with her time and talents. She taught Sunday school for more than 50 years and served as moderator and on the board of deacons at Zenobia Baptist Church near Pawnee, and upon joining First Baptist Church of Virden continued in Christian service.
Her memberships included Peter Meyer Chapter of NSDAR, King Unit of HCEA of Christian County, Illinois State Genealogical Society, charter member and board member of Christian County Genealogical Society, Logan County Genealogical and Historical Societies, Vachel Lindsay Society, Morrisonville Historical Society, Area II Baptist World Mission Support Committee (secretary for more than 40 years), election judge for 45 years at Bois D'Arc Township #1 in Montgomery County and was still a member of the Montgomery County Farm Bureau.
After their retirement, the Slomans enjoyed traveling in their motorhome. She loved the hand piecing and stitching of beautiful quilts she created for each of her family members. She also loved sharing her homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and banana bread.
Mrs. Sloman is survived by three children, Maude (Duane) Higgins of Wichita, KS, John (Rita) Sloman of Rockville, KY, and Rachel (Wm. Perry) Broughton of Pawnee; six grandchildren, Jeff (Carole) Higgins, Wendy (Pam Anderson) Sloman, Jason (Sumar) Sloman, Rebecca (Steve) Martin, Joshua (Kelly) Broughton and Sarah (David) Shike; 12 great-grandchildren: Ryan, Mary Catherine and Samantha Higgins, Madisyn, Jaiden and Landin Sloman, Julia Waldeck, Kaleb and Connor Broughton, Davin, Reagan and Rachel Shike; and a brother-in-law Ralph Sloman.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Russell Bentley and sisters-in-law, Hazel Bentley and Beth Sloman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to honor Catherine may be directed to First Baptist Church of Virden, 157 W. Jackson St., Virden, Ill. or the Mary Bryant Home for the Blind and Visually Impaired, c/o Brandt Thomas Educational Center, 2960 Stanton St., Springfield, IL 62703.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.curryfh.com.
