Lloyd Ray Cherryholmes

Lloyd Ray Cherryholmes, 91, of Marion, longtime resident of Urbandale, Iowa, died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at Willow Gardens Care Center with St Luke’s Hospice. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Westover Funeral Home in Des Moines with visitation held from noon to 2 p.m., before the service.

He is survived by two sisters, Martha Smith and Francis Prather, both of Russell, Iowa; one brother, Burl (Pauline) of Marion; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Lloyd was born July 29, 1921, in Wayne County, Iowa, to Loyal and Elva (Moats) Cherryholmes. He married the love of his life, Phyllis Wright, on June 13, 1954. Lloyd was a loyal and hard-working employee of Sunoco Oil Company (Diamond Oil Company) for 20 years. He delivered oil, gasoline and diesel. Lloyd served in the Army Artillery during World War II in five campaigns earning five battle stars. He was honored to participate in The Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2011 and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. He had many hobbies including puzzles, wood working, collecting antique clocks and his flower gardens. He loved cars, both old and new. He was always a very neat dresser and loved his western boots and cowboy hat.

He was a long-time member of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines and a member of the American Legion Post #663, Urbandale, Iowa. For the last 5-1/2 years, he was lovingly cared for by his “lard-assed baby brother,” Burl, (as Lloyd called him) and special sister-in-law, Pauline.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Phyllis; his parents, Loyal and Elva; brothers, Loren D. (Cleo Sheets), Chariton, Keith R. (Ruth Applegate) Nevada, Marshall D. (Letha Adams), Des Moines and Arthur, Oelwein; brothers-in-law, Charles Smith and Jack Prather, both of Russell; and nephews, Keith Lynn, Craig and Jerry.

A memorial fund has been established in his memory at Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

Online condolences may be left at www.ilescares.com.

Published in The Gazette Feb. 12, 2013.