ANNA, Ill. -- James Isaac Newton, 79, of Anna died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, at his home.

He was born May 9, 1929, at Jonesboro, Ill., son of William E. "Buck" and Gladys Marie Newton. He and Margaret Smith were married May 8, 1948, at Anna.

Newton graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in 1946. He moved to St. Louis in 1949, and to Elgin, Ill., in 1966. He retired in 1994 and moved to Anna in 1997.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Marilyn Kay Newton of Anna; a son, James Leroy Newton of Glendora, Calif.; a daughter, Cathy Sue Cobb of Anna; three brothers, Frank Newton of Rochelle, Ill., Earnie Newton of Cobden, Ill., Donald Newton of Springfield, Ill.; a sister, Shirley Jones of Lake of Egypt, Ill.; nine grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, a sister, a grandchild and a great-grandson.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Earnie Newton will officiate, with burial in the Jonesboro Cemetery.