Mildred Luther, 91, of Champaign, died Sept. 25. She began as a records clerk in the University Library and worked at the university for 49 years. She joined the Office of the Provost staff in 1950, and then served as the business manager of the Office of the Chancellor, starting in 1967. She served on the staffs of chancellors Jack Peltason, William Gerberding, John Cribbet, Thomas Everhart and Morton Weir. She retired in 1993 after one of the longest tenures of any employee. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 905 S. Russell St., Champaign. Memorials: Mildred M. Luther and Kathryn Luther Henderson Endowment Fund for fellowships in the School of Information Science; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, c/o University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801; United Way of Champaign County, Community Impact Fund, 404 W. Church St., Champaign, IL 61820; Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation scholarship fund for Champaign County agricultural students, 801 N. Country Fair Drive, Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821; St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, general fund, 905 S. Russell St., Champaign, IL 61822; and the Champaign County Humane Society, 1911 E. Main St., Urbana, IL 61802.
Dr. John Roger Powell, 83, of Champaign died at home Oct. 4. He was a clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois School of Clinical Medicine from 1980 to 1991. Memorials: Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, 116 N. First St., Champaign, IL 61820.
Dr. George “Bruce” Thow, 87, of Bend, Oregon, died at home Oct. 6. He was the founder and director of the colon and rectal surgery residency training program, a cooperative effort between the university and Carle Foundation Hospital. He also served as the team physician for the Illini Hockey Club. Memorials: Shepherd’s House or Bethlehem Inn.
