James Lafferty Worick

James Lafferty Worick, 99, formerly of Martinsville, Illinois, died on October 10, 2020 at Heartland Nursing & Rehab, in Casey, Illinois.  Jim was born on February 11, 1921, in rural Duval, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Philip E. Worick (of Mankato, Kansas) and Lula (Lafferty) Worick (of Martinsville, Illinois).

On September 8, 1945, Jim married the former Evelyn Louise Fisher, who predeceased him on December 4, 1994.  Jim married his high school sweetheart, the former Thelma Burger Yargus, at Cook Memorial United Methodist Church, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on June 8, 1997.  Thelma survives him, recently celebrating her 98th birthday, with mixed emotions.

Jim is survived by his British family:  his daughter, Ann Lawson, of Newtown, Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom; granddaughter, Tanya; grandson, Kevin; five great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Jim is also survived by nieces and nephews, LuAnn & Dennis, Karen & Bill, and Karla, Dick & Wendy, Scott & Laura, and Jeff & Francesca; great nieces and nephews; members of his Church family; his Masonic brothers and fellow Shriners; and an array of friends across the country.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Evelyn, and his sister, Joanne (Worick) Fraass.

After graduating from Martinsville High School, in Martinsville, Illinois, in June 1940, Jim enlisted in the Army Air Corps.  Beginning his career at Chanute Field, in Rantoul, Illinois, he was an instructor in the Training Command, instructing in Aircraft Electrical Maintenance.  Serving through World War II, he was stationed at Training Command schools in the States, before being transferred to England and ultimately to France.  His rank rose to the level of [Congressional] Staff Sergeant.  Following his discharge in October 1945, Jim enrolled in Rose Poly Technical Institute (now Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology), in Terre Haute, Indiana.

After two years of college, Jim went to work for Public Service of Indiana (now Duke Power), as an electrical engineer, working on electrical control systems and at generating stations.  After 35 years with Public Service of Indiana, Jim retired at Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana.  With his marriage to Thelma, he returned home and relocated to rural Martinsville, Clark County, Illinois.

Jim was active in his local church (at Cook Memorial UMC, in Jeffersonville, Indiana; and then, at Martinsville UMC, in Martinsville, Illinois), serving on the church board, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, overseeing a building program, and dealing with matters of church finances.  Well into his 90’s, Jim decided to buy a new Bible and read it from cover to cover, again.

Private funeral services will be held.  Burial will follow at the Ridgelawn Cemetery, in Martinsville, with graveside military honors by Casey VFW and Martinsville American Legion Post No. 515.

Memorial donations may be made to the Martinsville United Methodist Church, the Martinsville American Legion Post No. 515, or the church/charity of donor’s choice.

To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Greenwell Funeral Home of Martinsville, IL is in charge of the arrangements.

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