George Elston

CARBONDALE – George Elston, 94, of Carbondale, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at Helia Healthcare of Energy.



He was born April 19, 1924 to George and Bessie (Lipe) Elston in Carbondale. He married Esta Chloteal Arnette in 1950 at West Frankfort. She preceded him in death in 1974.



George graduated from University High School and then attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin, obtaining his Master’s degree. As a lifelong learner he did post-graduate work at Indiana and Purdue Universities.



He served his country in World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater for the Army Air Corp as a Meteorologist. After his military service and education he worked as a math teacher from 1950 – 1962 in Herrin High School. In 1963 he became a math instructor for SIUC until his retirement in 1988. George was instrumental in creating the Math Field Day for regional high school students that is held each spring at SIUC. He continued to give back to the community by serving on local boards. He was on the board of directors for 23 years at the Franklin-Williamson County Human Services (which is now Centerstone) and he served as past president of the Lipe Cemetery Board. He also served as treasurer for the Teeter Carter Watson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2605 in Carbondale. He received the Ellen T. Quinn Memorial Award in 1994 from the Illinois Association of Community Mental Health Agencies.



He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed going to northern Minnesota to fish, first with his fishing buddies and then with his children and nephews.



George is survived by his two daughters, Jetta Chiaventone of Herrin and Rachel Lee and husband Thomas of Carbondale; grandchildren, Kelley (Keith) Dacus of Creve Coeur, MO, Leslie (Mario) Lopez of Tampa, FL, Nathan Lee of Sun Prairie, WI, Erin McElroy of Hurst, TX, Angie (Josh) McMahon of Hugoton, KS, Destinee Lee of Kenosha, WI, and Mariah Lee of Topeka, KS; great-grandchildren, Annemarie, Clayton, Sam, Tess, Hunter, Zoey, Weston, Julian, Rosalina and Benjie; sister, Sue Elston Ibendahl of Nashville; nephews, Greg (Kathy) Ibendahl, Doug (Cathy) Ibendahl and Stephen (Elise) Ibendahl.



He is preceded in death by his wife; parents; sister, Margaret Ellen; son-in-law, Michael J. Chiaventone; brother-in-law, Edgar Ibendahl; and mother-in-law, Zetta Lee.



Funeral services for George will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale with Rev. John Annable officiating. Burial will follow in Lipe Cemetery, Makanda. Visitation will be 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.



Memorials may be made to Lipe Cemetery in lieu of flowers. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.



To share a memory or story of George visit, www.meredithfh.com