Ovid L. Maples, 63, Freeport, Illinois, organizer and first commander of the U. S. Army Reserve Training Center in Freeport, died Saturday morning, November 15, 1975 in Freeport Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

Maples, who later was a founder and president of the Feico Mfg. Co., Freeport, was named by the Army to organize the unit shortly after World War II. The unit was deactivated in 1964.

Maples was Democratic candidate for sheriff in Stephenson County in 1966 but lost.

Maples mother, Ada Belle (Brooks) Maples moved to Olney in 1920 after the death of her husband, George Maples, and was employed at the Olney Sanitarium until ill health forced her to quit.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1918 and his mother in 1936.

Survivors include his widow, Eva Jean (Pfaff) Maples; a son, Richard and three grandchildren.

Services at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home with burial in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Freeport.

Published in Morning Star, Rockford, IL – Sunday, November 16, 1975