Avis L Ditch

Avis L. Ditch, 96, of Bradford, Ill., died at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at her home. She was born July 5, 1912, in Ava, Ill., to Maurice and Lillie (Lee) Bagley. She married Earl Virgil Ditch on Nov. 3, 1932, in Oraville, Ill. He passed away Dec. 26, 1998. Surviving are her children, Virgil (Betty) Ditch of Wheatland, Calif., Vera Fickling of Wyoming, Ill., Etta (David) Compton of Montgomery, Ill., and Nancy (John) Cler of Bradford, Ill.; 18 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Bessie Graff of Murphysboro, Ill. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Bonnie Lu Ditch; son-in-law, Larry Fickling; and three sisters, Elsie Bryant, Lydia Qualls and infant Pearl Bagley. She was a homemaker and did baby-sitting out of her home for many years. She was known as Grandma Ditch by more than 90 children she had baby-sat for. She was a cook for Bradford Grade School and owner and operator of Ditch''s Cafe in Campbell Hill, Ill. She attended First Baptist Church of Bradford. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2009, at First Baptist Church of Bradford. Pastor Jeffery S. Patrick Sr. will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Grant-Johnson Funeral Home in Bradford. Burial will be in the Bradford Cemetery in Bradford. Memorials may be made to Bradford Rescue Squad or the First Baptist Church of Bradford.