Wayne W. Teague

Son of Eunice (Sharp) and Josh Teague was born on October 11, 1908 in Massac County, Illinois. The first of three articles we have on him is dated Thursday, October 15, 1981 and reads as follows:

WAYNE W. TEAGUE, 73, of 404 W. 6th St. died Oct. 11 at Western Baptist hospital.
Service was to be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Aikins-Farmer Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. W.V. Aikins and the Rev. Art Gibbons officiating. Burial was to follow in Massac Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Teague is survived by his wife, Lena; sister, Ila Mae Ryan of O'Fallon, Mo.; sisters-in-law, Kay Teague of Troy, Mo. and Wanita Teague of Phoenix, Ariz.; four nephews; and one niece.

American Legion and VFW were to hold graveside rites.

Pallbearers are to be Paul Jones, O'Dell Baggat, Ralph Lyerly, Jack Rice, Raymond Smith and Julian Mizell. Music is to be provided by Alice Stevens, organist and singer.

The second article has a photo and a poem. We don't have the time period nailed down other than WWII. It reads:

DEDICATES POEM TO SON
(Photo caption says Sgt. Wayne Teague)
A poem written and composed by Eunice Teague and dedeicted to her son, Sgt. Wayne Teague, who is fighting with the First Army overseas:

"To My Son"

Two years have past and gone son
since we said our last goodbyes
and try as we would to keep them back
the tears flow from our eyes.

You gazed at me son, from head to foot
I could see it in your face
that you knew it would be many a day
before another dear embrace.

You left your Country and all you hold dear
to fight on foreign land-
just eighteen months ago now
to help Old Glory stand.

Only God can tell the agony
that has torn my soul since then,
but I am proud of you son,
and deep down I know
that boys like you will win.

The testing time has come, son,
our boys have begun to fall.
Oh God! Is our cry.
It's You and You alone
can protect now our precious all.

There's Cleo and Loren,
the salt of the earth,
who died to protect
the land that gave them birth.

Their light has gone out
as far as this life is concerned,
but for us and forever
it will shine on and on.

Dear Wayne, here's my prayer
that God's will shall be done
and my heart will beat with praise
if it's to bring you safe home.

The third article, with 10-11-81 written faintly at the top, reads:

OBITUARY
WAYNE WILLIAM TEAGUE, son of Josh and Eunice Sharp Teague, was born Oct. 11, 1908 at New Columbia, and departed this life Oct. 11, 1981 at the Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky.

On April 14, 1964, he was united in marriage to Lena Childers Eleam at Reno, Nevada.

Wayne lived most of his adult life in California. He was employed by the Lassen County Road Department for several years. After his retirement he moved back to Metropolis.

He is survived by his wife, Lena; one sister, Ida Mae Ryan and her husband, Hartley, of O'Fallon, Mo.; two sisters-in-law Juanita Teague and Catherine Teague; and several nephews and nieces.

His parents and two brothers preceeded him in death.

Wayne accepted Christ as his personal saviour several weeks ago and indicated many times during his illness that he was ready to go.

"I met the morrow's dawn with fear
and sought for strength divine.
I prayed till Christ himself drew near
and placed His hand in mine.
Together we passed through the day
without a fault or slip,
glad that I took the time to pray
for His companionship. "