William "Bill" Edward Whitlock

William Edward Whitlock, age 79, of Marion, passed away peacefully at home at 4:15 pm on Thursday, December 25, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born in Marion on December 22, 1946, the son of William Virgil and Irene Matilda (Whipple) Whitlock. He married the love of his life, Juanita Jewel McNeely, in Marion on May 23, 1964. Together, they have shared more than sixty-one years of marriage and precious memories.

Bill was a devoted family man who leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and laughter. After more than 41 years of dedicated service at Maytag in Herrin, Bill retired with honor and pride, but his true passion was building houses - a craft he loved with all his heart. Bill was a collector at heart, with a special fondness for guns, and a people person, with a quick wit and a love for telling jokes. But his greatest joys were the relationships he built and the memories he made with loved ones. He cherished his bond with his best friend, Jim Krumrey, and delighted in spending time with family, watching the kids' sporting events, and sipping coffee at McDonald's. Country music filled his days, and his pride in his family knew no bounds. Bill's warmth, humor, and generosity will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife- Juanita Jewel Whitlock of Marion; two sons- Ronnie Edward Whitlock of Marion and William Scott Whitlock of Marion; eight grandchildren- Ashley Nicole (Ryan) Owens, Andrew Jerry Whitlock, Amber Lynn (Greg) Lee, Cory Jacob Whitlock, Kaylee Dawn Whitlock, Dakota Dylan Whitlock, Jade Marie Whitlock, and Adriana Kay Walker; seven great grandchildren- Treston Lee Whitlock-Herring, Jackson Robert Whitlock-Herring, Landon Gage Whitlock, Makaylah Jewel Owens, Tae Jacob William Whitlock, Addlynn Grace Lee, Khloe Jewel Palmer and one on the way; two brothers- Rick (Pam) Herring of Marion and Jeff Herring of Marion; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son- Jerry Lee Whitlock, and his infant twin grandchildren- Hope and Faith Whitlock.

In accordance with Bill's wishes, no public services will be held at this time.

Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin is honored to have been called to serve the family. To leave an online condolence for the family, we invite you to visit www.johnsonhughes.com or call 618-942-3102 for more information.

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