Obituaries
Death of Mary Jo “Jody” Chulick Griggs
Mary Jo “Jody” Chulick Griggs died peacefully on February 16 at her home at Morningside in Newport News, VA after suffering from kidney disease. She had been a resident of Newport News, VA since March 2011, when she moved from Hendersonville, NC to be closer to her grandson and family. She was a longtime resident of Des Peres, MO and will always call St. Louis her home.
She was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband of 55 Years, Dr. James Young Griggs. She was the sister of Dr. John W. Chulick, and wife Frances, of Pembroke Pines, FL. She was the mother of Judith Ann Griggs Renfro of Enka, NC. She was the proud grandmother of Eric Ryan Renfro, and wife Shannon, of Hayes, VA; great grandmother of Jeremy Ryan and Irelynn Elizabeth Renfro, and the late Savannah Grace Renfro.
Born in Benld, IL on June 28, 1925, she attended Benld High School, class of 1944 and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in dress design in 1948.
Prior to marriage, she was the Head of the Patricia Stephens Modeling Agency. She starred and played piano in the Charlotte Peter’s noontime TV show. She also starred in her own TV show called “To the Ladies” which aired in St. Louis in the early 1950s, and went by the professional name Mary Jo Martin.
She was married to Jim at 1st Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO on August 4, 1951. She and her husband traveled with the Navy and spent time in Panama from 1953-1955.
Jody and Jim welcomed daughter, Judie, in May of 1957. Jody and her husband built their home in Des Peres in 1960 and while raising their young daughter, Judie, Jody had a conversation with Mayor Hugh McNew in 1962, answering a call to have more women involved in government, she began 20 years in city government in Des Peres. In 1962, she served on the Board of Adjustment until 1965, then ran and won the position of Alderwoman of Ward I 1965-1970, was elected Acting Mayor by the board of aldermen in 1968, then ran and won Mayor of Des Peres in 1970. She was the first woman mayor of Des Peres and one of the few in the nation, and proudly served as Mayor 1970-1972. She was elected Alderwoman again, serving from 1983 until 1987. During her tenure as Alderwoman, she was on the Board overseeing the development of West County Mall. Additionally, she served on many other boards and commissions before and after her term as Mayor.
She enjoyed gardening and was President of the Harwood Hills Garden Club (now Harwood Hills Women’s Club) in 1966, and again in 1992 to 1995. She also enjoyed playing bridge with friends and belonged to several Bridge Clubs. She was also active in several social clubs in the St. Louis area. She loved music fondly and enjoyed playing the piano as well as becoming an accomplished artist in her later years.
She was very political and participated in several Republican Party activities, and enjoyed working the polls in later years with her husband, Jim.
A gathering of friends and family will be held at 10:00AM, Friday, February 24 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Benld, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00AM with Msgr. Lawrence Auda, officiating. Burial will be held at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie, IL.
Kravanya Funeral Home, is in charge of the arrangements.
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William Henry “Bill” Winstead, 70 of Walshville, passed away at his residence at 7:27 a.m. Friday, April 25, 2025. Bill was born on May 9, 1954, in Litchfield a son of Virgil Lee and Mabel Elizabeth (Snyder) Winstead.
He graduated from Litchfield High School with the class of 1972. He married the former Beverly Ann Niehaus at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive on August 16, 1975. She survives.
Bill was passionate about agriculture, and was employed with Stamer Implement, and later the long-time service manager for Timmerman Implement, later known as Sloan Implement, in Litchfield. He loved farming and working on old machinery and trucks. Bill was a former member of the Litchfield Community School District #12 Board of Education and had the privilege of presenting diplomas to his children during the time he served on the board. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Worden.
Bill is survived by his wife, Beverly A. Winstead of Walshville; daughters, Michele (Scott) Bader of Carlinville and Melinda (Joseph) Estrada of Hamel; daughter-in-law, Lyndsy Winstead of Litchfield; grandchildren, Cale, Gavin and Keaton Winstead, Anthony and Joshua Bader, and Isiah and Mary Estrada; and great-grandchildren, Kayla, Ava, and Josiah Estrada.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Mabel Winstead; a son, Michael W. Winstead; a daughter, Melissa A. Winstead; a sister, Betty Niemann; and his mother and father-in-law, Elmer and Mary (Stamer) Niehaus.
Visitation for Bill will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6969 W. Frontage Road, Worden. Rev. Benjamin Ball, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church will officiate.
A luncheon will be served after the funeral and before the burial in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield. The family requests casual attire be worn. Memorials may be directed to the family of William Winstead, c/o Beverly Winstead. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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Larry Ira Pauline, 85, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Springhill Medical Center in Mobile, AL. Larry was born on March 29, 1940, in Charleston, West Virginia, a son of Ira Noel and Olive Phyliss Cain Pauline.
He married Linda Lu Horn on September 24, 1958. In his lifetime, he served in the U.S. Navy, was an engineer, salesman, entrepreneur, and a minister of the Lord’s doctrine in the Berean Church of Christ of Modesto and the Church of Christ of Carlinville. He led countless people to the Lord’s word.
Larry was a joker of sorts and was involved in many strange, funny, dangerous, and interesting situations. Larry loved flying his Luscombe 8 airplane and belonged to a small flying club out of Zelmer Memorial Air Park in Palmyra. Larry was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle.
Larry is preceded in death by his father, Ira Noel Pauline; mother Olive Phyllis Pauline; wife Linda Lu Pauline; brother, Robert (Bobby) Pauline; and lifelong friend of 58 years, Enola Gay Ellis.
He is survived by his sons, Tim (Sherry) Pauline and their sons Dillon, Wyatt and Myles of Mobile, AL; Eric (Angela) Pauline and son Gabriel of Carlinville; and Michael (Kellie) Pauline and son Cody (Miranda); daughter, Makenzie of Cocoa, FL; and Enola’s sons, Brian (Jeanette) Ellis and their daughters Claire and Eden, and Erik Ellis, both of West Virginia; great-grandson, Kota Pauline; brothers, David Pauline and Ernest Pauline; and several nieces and nephews.
Private entombment will be at the Mayfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Mausoleum of Valor, Carlinville. Memorials may be made to Zelmar Memorial Air Park, C284+HW6, Palmyra, IL 62674. Davis-Anderson Funeral Homes, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.
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Donald Dale Audi, 92 of Divernon, died at Carlinville Area Hospital, Carlinville on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 12:08 p.m. He was born on May 28, 1932, in Benld to Adelfo Audi and Mary Roman Audi.
He married Edna M (Kelly) Audi on August 22, 1953, at St. Joseph’s Church in Benld. She preceded him in death on May 29, 2022. He was a retired engineering technician for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Donald enjoyed coaching youth sports and being with his family. He was an avid fan of the Cardinals, Blues, and Illini. He was a veteran of the US Army after having served during Korea.
He is survived by his children, Mark Audi (significant other, Sherrie Kunz) of Pawnee and Diane Audi of Lincoln; grandchildren, Kelli (Chad) Cordani of Divernon, Becky (Michael) Eimer of Lincoln, Zack (Tracy) Audi of Auburn, Bill Burg of Janesville, WI, and Joe Audi of Divernon; and great grandchildren, Trystan, Taylor, Taegun, Coryne, Michael, Ryleigh, Lola, Avary, Cayl, and Brandon.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, spouse, brother and sister in law, Louis and Karen Audi.
Friends may call on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Benld from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Funeral services are Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 12:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home in Benld. Burial will be at Benld Cemetery, Benld.
Memorials are suggested to Susan G Komen. Kravanya Funeral Home, Benld is in charge of the arrangements.
