JOY, Ill. — Ronald L. Shotwell, 70, Joy, died Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009, at Mercer County Hospital in Aledo.

Burial is at the Buffalo Prairie Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital or to the Joy Volunteer Fire Department.

On-line condolences can be left at www.fippingerfuneralhome.com.

Mr. Shotwell was born April 25, 1939, in New Boston, Ill., the son of Harold and W. Mae Brown Shotwell. He graduated valedictorian from New Boston High School in 1957. He  married Arlene G. Thomas April 8, 1962, in Millersburg.

He was employed at McCaw Electric and Furniture for more than 31 years. In 1988 he opened Shotwells Appliance Store in Aledo, where he continued to sell and service General Electric products. He retired and closed the store in 2001.

He provided community service in numerous capacities. He served as a police officer for more than 25 years for Joy and New Boston, and was captain of the Civil Defense Auxiliary in the 1960s. He was a 1990 contender for the office of Mercer County Coroner and served as Deputy Coroner for Mercer County. He also served as an emergency medical technician for Mercer County Hospital, retiring in 1997.

He served as zoning enforcement officer for more than 40 years for the village of Joy.

He was an amateur radio and CB operator and enjoyed fishing, hunting and playing ball with his daughter. He was a talented musician especially loving the guitar and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.

He will be sorely missed by his wife, Arlene of Joy; a daughter, Sharon Sample and husband, Richard I of Macomb; a son, Richard Shotwell and wife, Jana of Kansas City, Mo.; six grandchildren, Thomas Shotwell and wife, Crystal, Leona Stout and husband, Tommy, Jonathan and Ashley Shotwell, all of the Kansas City area, Richard II and Ryan Sample of Macomb; four great-grandchildren, with one due in November; two sisters, M. Elaine Sue Goff of Killeen, Texas, Rose Johnson and husband, Eugene of Florida and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a half sister.