Lydia Jeter, 96, passed away at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Champaign County Nursing Home in Urbana.

Private family services will be held.

Mrs. Jeter was born June 28, 1919, in the Village of Cerro Gordo to parents William Howard Cash and Agatha (Stollard) Hood. Lydia was introduced to Lloyd McKendrie Jeter in Decatur early in the war years, and the two wed on September 10, 1943, at Dale Mabry Air Base, Tallahassee. He preceded her in death on September 15, 1984. Her parents and two brothers also preceded Lydia in death.

Mrs. Jeter is survived by her sons, Jeffrey (Julie), of LaGrange Park, and Leon, of Urbana. Her grandchildren are Katherine of London, U.K.; David (Kari) of Wheaton; Michael (Heather) of Chula Vista, California; and Patrick (Jessica) of Clarendon Hills. She was recently blessed with a great-grandson, Caleb.

After graduating from high school in Decatur, Lydia worked as a telephone operator and for the Southern Pacific Railroad. After the end of WWII, Lloyd and Lydia attended Eureka College together and then settled in Peoria, where Lydia began a career with the Peoria Public Library; she worked part-time at its branch libraries while raising the boys and full-time later. A favorite library duty was presenting the story hour to young children enrolled in summer reading programs. After retirement, she volunteered in the library book-mending department. In 2003, she moved to Urbana.

Lydia was well liked throughout her life, and was especially known for cheerfulness and an even temperament.

Memorial contributions could be made to the Champaign County Nursing Home Auxiliary or to your local library's support organization.