Vern D. Race

Vern Race, 92, of Rock Island, Illinois, died Tuesday, October 21, 2014, in UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, with The Reverend Robb McCoy officiating. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation is one hour before the services. Memorials may be made to Quad City Animal Welfare Center, Milan, Illinois.

Vern Dale Race was born January 9, 1922, in East Moline, Illinois, to Harlin and Nora Cracraft Race. He served in the U. S. Army in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, and received several awards, including a Bronze Star medal and a silver battle star. He married Helen Suman who preceded him in death. He later married Patricia Achilles on September 4, 1960, in Barstow, Illinois.

Vern was a self-employed milk man, with routes on both sides of the river, delivering for Peerless Dairy, Sanitary Farms Dairy, and Land-O-Lakes. He retired in 1983, and later worked for Shetter-Fude Furniture and Phillips Furniture, both in Moline.

Vern was a Life Member and Past Commander of East Moline Am Vets Post #145; a Life Member of Moline VFW Post #2153; a member of Two Rivers United Methodist Church, Rock Island; and a former member of East Moline Eagles and Blackhawk Aquarium Society. He was an avid bowler, and bowled in several leagues including the Eagles Traveling League.

Vern is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pat; five children and their spouses, Pat and Larry Ochs of Enon, Ohio, Nancy and Bernard Pugh of Sheffield, Alabama, Gary and Kim Race of Littleton, Colorado; Marcia Risden of Silvis, Illinois; and Mark and Jamie Race of Peoria, Illinois; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sisters, Vivian Clark and Vesta Krygier, and a brother, Melvin Race.

Vern's family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a free candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.