Edna Ellen Byrd

East Moline, Illinois Edna Ellen Byrd age 91 of East Moline died Saturday, March 24, 2001 at Illini Restorative Care, Silvis. Memorial Services will be 5:00 PM Wednesday, at Gospel Lighthouse Church of God in Colona. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 PM prior to the service. Private burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Kewanee, Illinois. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society. Trimble Funeral Home, Moline assisted the family. The former Edna Ellen Knappenberger was born November 16, 1909 in Toulon, Illinois, the daughter of Ernest and Beatrice (Mock) Knappenberger. She married Russell Byrd November 3, 1928 in Toulon, he died in 1953. Edna had been employed at Arrowhead Ranch for 3 ½ years and worked as a supervisor and cook at the Illinois State Training School for Girls in Geneva, Illinois for 13 ½ years. Ms. Byrd was a past President of the Mothers of World War II in Kewanee, Illinois. She was a Chicago Cub and Bears fan. Edna enjoyed; crocheting, gardening, cooking and canning. She especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren. Edna is survived by her daughters, Mary Frances Race of East Moline, and Nora Whitney of Granite City, a son John T. Byrd of Jacksonville, Arkansas, twenty four grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Her husband Russell, three sons Richard Sr, Larry and Russell Dean, and a grandson Neil Kuelper preceded her in death. ENDOF OBITUARY