James F. "Jimmy" Rue, 87, of Marshall, IL formerly of Casey and Olney, IL passed away on Monday, October 15, 2012 at St. John's Hospital, Springfield, IL.

He was born May 18, 1925 in Hazel Dell, IL, the son of Robert Sylvester Rue and Iris Annie Whitton Rue. In December 1948 he met the love of his life, Nancy Katherine "Kathy" Forcum, when as a young minister he came to her home congregation, the Oliver Church of Christ. They were married August 7, 1949 and had celebrated 60 years of marriage just before she passed away on September 23, 2009.

To this union, two children were born, Linda Diane Teel (husband Bob) of Chatham, Illinois and Randal James Rue (wife Tammie) of Sherman, Illinois. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Jeni (Teel) Sperry, Brad Teel, Sarah (Rue) Ford, and David Rue and four great grandchildren, Kathryn Olivia Sperry, Amelia Grace Sperry, Elizabeth Sue Ford, and Jackson Richard Ford with a fifth great grandson due in February.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; his twin brother, Joseph Rue and stillborn grandson, Jonathan Randal Rue.

Jimmy was a 1943 graduate of Casey High School. He received his B.A. in Education from Eastern Illinois University and then went on to receive his Masters of Education from the University of Illinois. He also attended Feed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN.

He was a WWII veteran, serving his country as a "Tail Gunner" in a B17 "Flying Fortress" in the US Army Air Corp. He flew thirty-five missions over Germany. He was the recipient of a Purple Heart, Air Medal and a Presidential Citation.

Brother Rue served as a Minister for the Oliver Church of Christ and many other area Churches. He was employed as a principal for the Richland County School District in Olney, IL for twenty-seven years. He had also served as a principal for the Hutsonville and Jewett, IL schools.

Funeral services at Markwell Funeral Home. Burial in the Hazel Dell South Cemetery with graveside military rites by the Casey VFW and Hazel Dell American Legion.

Published Olney Daily Mail (IL) - Oct. 16, 2012