Faye E. Tombaugh

Faye E. Tombaugh, 93, of Streator passed away Sunday, December 22, 2019 at Heritage Health of Streator.

            Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 7 pm at the Winterrowd Funeral Home and Saturday from 9 to 10:30 am at the Grand Ridge United Methodist Church. The funeral service, led by Pastor Anne Ferguson, will begin at 10:30 am.  Burial will be in the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Streator.

            Faye was born on November 23, 1926 in Streator to William and Celia (Shawback) Freise who lived and farmed near Leonore. Faye married Boyd G. Tombaugh of rural Streator June 20, 1948. He preceded her in death on March 15, 1994. Surviving are their three sons, Larry (Kathy) of Streator, Chuck of Ottawa and Ron (Sandy) of Streator, five grandchildren (Matthew, Kate, Eric, Brandon and Tyler), and four great-grandchildren (Grace, Hunter, Sierra, and Brittany). Also surviving are her sister, Duanne Nelson of Ottawa and her sisters-in-law, Barbara Freise of Ottawa and Marlene Freise of Wenona, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and three brothers Gaylan (Dutch), Merle (Bud), and Wayne Freise, by a sister-in-law Barb Freise, a brother-in-law Don Nelson, a daughter-in-law Rita Tombaugh, and by a granddaughter Heather Tombaugh.

            Faye graduated from Streator H.S. with the class of 1944 and began her long teaching career at the age of 17 in a one-room school near Lowell. Following a stint in the one-room Koontz school and the early rearing of her sons, she gradually earned her educational degree at Illinois State University. Altogether, she taught for over 38 years in area schools, chiefly as a second-grade teacher at Northlawn and Oakland Park. She officially retired in 1995 but continued as a substitute teacher until the age of 80.

            Faye was a certified lay speaker of the United Methodist (UM) Church and was very involved in church work both locally and through her service on the executive committee of the Pontiac District UM Women. She was a faithful member of the Grace UM Church of Streator and, later, the Grand Ridge UM Church.

            Memorials may be directed to the Grand Ridge United Methodist Church.

            A separate memorial gift from the family will be used to benefit the Streator and Woodland educational districts.