Mt. Vernon Register-News, Mt. Vernon, IL July 23, 2014 Bob Sledge, 82, of Mt. Vernon, died suddenly Tuesday morning, July 22, 2014, at his home. He was born Aug. 3, 1931, in Dix, the son of George Emery and Mattie (Riley) Sledge. On May 11, 1952, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, he married Dolly Benard and she survives in Mt. Vernon. He was the co-owner of B & D Sledge Drilling. He served in the United States Army as a First Sergeant with Company A 66th Tank Battalion. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church for 62 years and served as a Sunday school teacher, a deacon and a board member of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Committee. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He is survived by his wife, Dolly Sledge of Mt. Vernon; three children, Cheryl Harrison and husband Ronnie of Mt. Vernon, Brad Sledge and special friend Juanita of Bluford and Kay Hall and husband Tom of Texico; seven grandchildren, Gabe Harrison and wife Keri, Luke Harrison and wife Sarah, Chelsea Heck ad husband Ricky, Amy Sledge and special friend Chad, Bobby Sledge, Adam Hall and wife Heather and Amber Hall and wife Kody; eight great-grandchildren, Anni, Roman, Tristan and Savannah Harrison, Quincy Heck, Wyatt Bell, and Tawneley and Easton Hall; one brother-in-law, Clarence Benard and wife Barbara of Benton; two sisters-in-law, Mary Benard of Chicago and Betty Sledge of Texico; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Dee Sledge and Walt Sledge. Funeral services for Mr. Sledge will be held at 12 p.m. Friday at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix with the Rev. Jack Lucas and the Rev. Jason Webb officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Graveside military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 141 of Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Pleasant Hill Food Pantry and will be accepted at the service, or by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, IL 62830. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneralhomeinc.com