BLOOMINGTON - Wesley Delmar Stephens, 88, Bloomington, passed away Wednesday (July 1, 2009) at his residence.

His memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington. Inurnment will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. The Rev. Ellen Culpepper will be officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the memorial home.

The family suggests memorials be made to any hospice program; Centennial Christian Church, Bloomington; or the United Way.

Wes was born May 2, 1921, in Hudson, the son of Jay M. and Mae Ambrose Stephens. He married Louise "Tip" Tipton on Dec. 14, 1943, in Fairbury. She passed away Jan. 25, 2005.

Surviving are three children, Wendy (James) Cullen, Seattle, Wash.; Carol (John) Long, Rochester, N.Y.; and Anne (James) Wilson, Matoaca, Va.; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.

Wes was a member of Centennial Christian Church, Bloomington.

He graduated from Illinois State Normal University. Wes was a pilot in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired from McKnight & McKnight Publishing, Bloomington in 1978 as president. He then later purchased and operated Antioch Color Center, a paint and wallpaper store in Kansas City, Mo., from 1978 to 1985. Wes was a member of Kiwanis. He was past president of the Bloomington School Board and Chamber of Commerce; and he served as chairman of the United Way, Bloomington. After he retired and when he returned to Bloomington, he was active in SCORE.

Online condolences may be e-mailed from www.calvertmemorial.com.