Ned Trovillion's Obituary

Edward B. "Ned" Trovillion, 79, of Vienna, and a former resident of Pope County, died at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999 at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky.
 

He was born March 7, 1920 in the Brownfield community of Pope County, son of the late Paul L. Sr. and Marian (Wymore) Trovillion.
 

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, the former Jan Hedger; a daughter, Emily Trovillion of Tijeras, N.M.; two sons, Ferris H. Trovillion of Marion and Timothy E. Trovillion of Indianapolis, Ind.; a brother, Paul Trovillion Jr., and his wife, Mabel of Paducah, Ky.; two sisters, Mariana Thompson and her husband, Herman of Peoria and Carolyn Alexander and her husband, Jim of LaPrairie; a sister-in-law, Annalou Sowers, Marion; and several nieces and nephews.

He graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Agriculture; received his Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Southern Illinois University. He taught Vocational Agriculture at the Pope County Community High School from 1949-1957. He then accepted a position with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and was transferred to the Vienna office in 1965, where he served as District Conservationist. During his 22 years heading SCS work in Johnson County, his major accomplishments included the development of the Little Cache Watershed project and Nature Conservancy and the promotion of NO-TILL as the most effective method for reducing erosion on cropland. Ned retired from the U.S. Soil Conservation Service in 1987.

Ned was an accomplished photographer. He began this lifelong hobby while still a high school student. One of Ned's greatest pleasures was sharing his photographic slides with countless audience throughout the region. Ned and Jan were extensive world travelers. Since 1972, they had the opportunity to visit over 50 countries on six continents. He drew extensively from photographs taking during these trips to prepare educational programs and travelogues. Ned authored the book, "Southern Illinois..a photographer's love for the countryside and its beauty," in 1995.

He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served in the China-Burma-India Theatre during World War II. He continued his early air experience and enjoyed aerial photography and mapping.

He was a charter member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna and had served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, and was a former choir member.

He formerly served as the Southern Illinois District Lt. Governor of the Kiwanis International and was a member of the Pope County Historical Society. He was awarded the prestigious Award of Merit from the U. of I. Agriculture Alumni Association in recognition of his overall contributions to conservation in Illinois.
Services will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Fellowship Baptist Church. The Revs. Steven Lindsey, Scott Harner and Jerry Day will officiate. A graveside committal service will be conducted Monday at 10 a.m. at the Prospect Cemetery in the Brownfield community.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Fellowship Baptist Church.  Memorials may be made to the Fellowship Baptist Church building fund, the Baptist Children's Home at Carmi, or to the Nature Conservancy. Memorial envelopes will be available at the church.  Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna is in charge of arrangements.