SAVOY, IL- William O. Freeman, 87, of Savoy, formerly of Urbana, IL, died at 6:50 A.M., Saturday, August 16, 2008 at St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, IL.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana. J.P. Jones will officiate. Burial will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana, with military rites accorded by Champaign V.F.W.#5520. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 5-7 PM at the funeral home.

Mr. Freeman was born October 20, 1920, near Ogden, Illinois, a son of William Chester and LaVaughn Yeazel Freeman. He married Sarabelle Bradley on January 31, 1942 at Ogden, Illinois. She preceded him in death on February 1, 1996. Survivors include five children: Judith K. Keiser (Jim) of Oak Ridge, TN, Marjorie A. Crum (Tom) of Chattanooga, TN, James B. Freeman (Lesley) of Dunedin, Fla., Kathleen S. Green of Mahomet, IL, and Betsy Berg (Mark) of Urbana, IL. 15 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a grandson and a sister, Kathryn.

Mr. Freeman graduated from Ogden High School and was a veteran and P.O.W. of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army 108th Infantry 29th Division. He retired as president of Gill Track & Field and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. He was a member of First Christian Church, Champaign, the Urbana Rotary and Urbana Chamber of Commerce, having served as past president of both organizations, the Quarterback Club, the Rebounders and he was a Grants-in-Aid donor for the University of Illinois. He was a past Commander of American Legion Post 48 and was a member of the Illiana Chapter of WWII P.O.W.s. Mr. Freeman had served on several Board of Directors for various banks.

Memorials may be made to: Parkinson's Foundation, First Christian Church, or Donor's Choice.