William “Slim” Sommerville, age 91, of the Illinois Veteran’s Home, Quincy, died on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. at the home. He was born on June 4, 1923 in Wichita, KS, a son of William & Bernice (Brummett) Sommerville.

Slim moved to St. Louis in 1927. He attended school in St. Louis and Ferguson, MO. He was very active in sports. He was a “knotholder” from grade school on. He lettered at Ferguson High School in basketball, track (low hurdles & relay) and tennis. After graduation he attended Culver-Stockton College on a basketball scholarship under Coach Bill Herington before entering the Navy in 1943. He served in the Panama Canal and Ecuador. He returned to Culver-Stockton in 1946, where he graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He was a member of Mu Theta Nu Fraternity which later joined the national group, Tau Kappa Epsilon.

During high school he was very fond of the Muny Opera and rode the streetcar from Ferguson High School to the Muny to sit in the “free seats.”

After graduation from Culver-Stockton he married Eileen Ervin at Luther Memorial Church in Quincy on August 27, 1949. She survives.
He was involved in sales while living in St. Louis until he moved to Quincy in 1962 and joined Carnes and Voth, selling real estate.

In Quincy he joined the Quincy Exchange Club where he served on many committees including chairman of the antique shows for many years. He was named the Exchangite of the Year in 1973 and Realtor of the Year in the same year.

He bought the Karmel Korn Shoppe in 1986 and retired from that in 1999.

After retiring he worked part-time at HyVee on Broadway where Lynn Gallagher referred to him as the “welcoming chairperson.”

In addition to his wife, Eileen, he is survived by two sons, Jeffrey Sommerville of Quincy and David Sommerville of Seattle, WA.He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Interment will be in Greenmount Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday beginning at 12:00 noon until the time of services at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Vermont Street Methodist Church.