Louis Linder, 91, A loving husband and father of Belleville, IL, born May 10, 1916 in E. St. Louis, IL, passed away peacefully three days before his 92nd birthday after a lengthy illness. His loving wife, children and two grandchildren were at his bedside at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL as he passed.

Mr. Linder was the only child of Dr. & Mrs. L.J. Linder, who both orphaned him by age 15. He was raised by his mother's sister, Anna Bott, who died in 1989. Louis attended three colleges, Westminster in Fulton, MO, St. Louis University and graduated from Washington University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He served in the army thereafter from 1944-1946 under Douglas MacArthur at the invasion of the Philippines, as well as the army of occupation in Japan. After the war he briefly returned to the Eagle-Picher Lead Company and eventually acquired a job with Alcoa Aluminum as a research chemist for 25 years. His accomplishments in that capacity landed him in the SAS (the Society of Applied Spectroscopy), with one term as its treasurer, as well as the Who's Who of Men of Science. He also participated in the East St. Louis, Illinois centennial celebration. He then worked as the manager of the chemistry lab at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville for 15 plus years.

He met his wife of nearly 60 years, Elizabeth, in 1948, and married her in November of that year in Flint Michigan. He was a member of the East St. Louis United Methodist Church and later joined the Signal Hill United Methodist Church. He was also a lifetime member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and participated in "Meals on Wheels". He will be sorely missed by family and friends.

Survived by his Wife - Elizabeth "Betty" Linder nee Schaeffer of Belleville, IL
Children - Harriett Cole of Tampa, FL
Louis (Marlene Bello) Linder III of Peoria, IL
Mark Douglas (Glenda Harris) Linder of Belleville, IL
4 Grandchildren - Jacob (Lorrie) Cole of Tampa, FL
Elizabeth "Betsy" Cole of Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Aaron Cole of Tampa, FL
Rachel Cole of Tampa, FL
1 Great Grandson - James Cole

Memorials: Memorials may be made to Signal Hill United Methodist Church or American Lung Association

Visitation: Friends may call from 4-8pm Friday, May 9, 2008 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, IL and from 10:30-11:00am Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Signal Hill United Methodist Church

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Signal Hill United Methodist Church in Belleville, IL with Pastor Peter Wehrly officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville, IL