Harold G. Felty, 87, of Champaign and formerly of McLeansboro, died at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, 1999, at the Cane Arbours Care Center in Savoy. He wasa retired educator and genealogist, having served as a teacher and administrator in Hamilton County schools and also taught in Champaign school systems.
He was born July 25, 1911, in Hamilton County near Thackery, a son of Harry Winfield and Maggie (Campbell) Felty. On June 30, 1939, he married Mary Christine Felty, who survives. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Mr. Felty taught and was an assistant principal at McLeansboro Township High School from 1934 to 1958. He was a counselor and director of guidance at Champaign Central High School from 1958 to 1974.
He received his bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1934. He received two master’s degrees from the University of Illinois in education and administration.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Champaign and the Federal Housing Authority Board in McLeansboro. He was a civil defense director at McLeansboro and served in the U. S. Air Force in Okinawa, Japan.
He was a member and past president of the Illinois Genealogical Society in 1976 and 1977. He was a member and past president of the McLeansboro Kiwanis Club and the national, state and local Education Associations.
He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Phi Kappa and the American Legion of McLeansboro and Champaign. He was a member of the Faculty Curriculum Board for Champaign Unit 4 Schools and served as past chairman of the Executive Board of the Champaign Education Association.
He was a member of the Clan Campbell Association, the Illinois Numismatic Association and the American Philatelic Society. He was a former scoutmaster and Cub Scout leader and a former member of the Methodist Church Board in Champaign and McLeansboro.
He was a former member of the McLeansboro Library Board and was a member of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. and the state, national, Champaign County and Hamilton County and Kentucky Historical Associations. He was a member of the Palatines of America, the State of Illinois Archive Board, the Society of the War of 1812 and the state, national and local Retired Teachers Associations.
He was an author and speaker on illinois militia, frontier marriages and loyalists in the American Revolution. He wrote four books and his hobbies were researching genealogy, woodworking, stamp and coin collecting, antiques, studying early settlers of Southern Illinois and archaic handwriting.
The funeral was at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 12, 1999, at Gholson Funeral Home. The Rev. John Lee Jr. officiated. Entombment was in the family mausoleum at the IOOF Cemetery in McLeansboro. Graveside military rites were performed by American Legion Post #106.
Mr. Felty is survived by his wife Mary Christine Felty of Champaign; three sons, Dennis Guy Felty and wife Debby Ann of Fairfax, Virginia, Robert Bruce Felty and wife Caryl Shannon of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and J. Michael Felty and wife Amy of Champaign; four grandchildren, Andrew Blake Felty, Ian Campbell Felty, Blaise Wilson Winfield Felty, Aurora Caledonia Felty; personal friends, Winston and June Mank of Champaign, Janice Ringienberg and Kirsten Riddle, both of Magnolia.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be made to the Urbana Free Library Archives and the McCoy Library in McLeansboro.