Herbert Eugene Bail, 92, of Champaign passed away on January 16, 2019 at Champaign Living Center, formerly the Heartland Health Care Center.

Herb was born in Olney on July 19, 1926 to Edgar Herbert “Skeet” and Nellie Blanche (Chesnut) Bail. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Evelyn (White) Bail; daughters Jeanne Buschbach of Manassas, Va., and Cindy Tanner of Philadelphia, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving is sister, Marianne Cockerell of Fort Worth, Tex.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Betty Payne and Doris Fear.

In 1944, at 17, Herb quit high school to enlist in the U.S. Navy to fight in World War II. He attended Signal School at the University of Chicago, then was assigned to the destroyer USS Charles Ausburne. He served in the South Pacific until 1946.

After the war, he joined the family business and began laying brick, apprenticing under his father for 4 years before attaining journeyman status. He laid brick alongside his father and uncles for 14 years. During that period, he earned a GED and had two daughters by his first wife, the former Mona Faye Bradfield.

Thanks to their integrity and expertise, the Bail family of bricklayers were highly sought after, but in 1960, Herb decided it was time for a career change. At age 34, he joined Prudential Insurance Company, starting as a special agent, then advancing to an insurance agent. He earned numerous professional credentials. The most prestigious was the CLU (Certified Life Underwriter), and he served as president of Life Underwriters of Champaign County for a year. He retired in 1992 as an insurance broker.

Herb was an active member of the Champaign Chapter of the Lions Club for 55 years. He was instrumental in the Lions’ year-round collection of used eyeglasses. He served as chairman of the Used Eyeglasses Committee for approximately 14 years – during which time he personally sorted and counted more than 88,600 pairs.

Beyond public service, he loved vegetable and flower gardening, scouring garage sales, and tinkering in his workshop. He could repair or build anything he attempted, but he’ll be remembered most for his courage, ethics, and honesty.

Herbert was laid to rest at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society. Morgan Memorial Home handled the arrangements.

Olney Daily Mail (IL) obituary & photo - January 21, 2019