Walter Pang

TAMMS, Ill. -- Walter S. Pang, age 84, of Tamms, died Sunday, May 20, 2007 at his home.

He was born on Nov. 9, 1922, in Cairo, Ill., to Harry and Lin Lee (Gee) Pang. He married Wanda Hale on Feb. 29, 1948.

Pang was a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, retiring in 1983 as Assistant Chief of the Midwest. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the Aleutian Islands and attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He was a member of the Cairo Masonic Lodge No. 237 AF&AM, a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Ainad Shrine. He was a member of the Clifford-Mills-Clendenin Post 2649, Veterans of Foreign Wars where he had served twice as Post Commander. He also served as 15th District Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the American Legion Post 406 in Cairo, Ill. He served 3 terms as mayor of Tamms and was on the Governor's Task Force on Aging. He was a Methodist.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Linda Benner of Muncie, Ind., and Kim Strich of Indianapolis; two sisters, Mamie of Taiwan and Judy Chung of Portland, Ore.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by six brothers.

Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, with Masonic rites at 7:30 p.m. by the Cairo Masonic Lodge No. 237, AF&AM.

Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Kelly Cox will officiate, with burial in St. Johns Cemetery with full military honors by a ritual team made up of area veterans groups sponsored by the Pulaski County Post 8891, VFW.