DONALD EUGENE DeFORD

Body Of Tremont Man Found By Peoria Residents

The body of a Tremont man was found by two Peoria residents Sunday, July 27, 1975, three miles east of Lake Canton.

Jeffrey Heinz, 19, and Clifford D. Underwood, 21, found the body of Donald Eugene DeFord, 42, of Tremont, Fulton County Coroner George Kauzlarich said. The body was found about 8:15 a.m.

He had been reported missing since Monday, Kauzlarich said. The two men said an exhaust hose was poked through the left window of the locked cab.

An inquest is pending.

Mr. DeFord was born in Canton, July 26, 1935, a son of Donald and Lucille Chambers DeFord. He married Carole Scheerer Oct. 10, 1954. She survives.

Also surviving are his parents of Canton; three stepchildren, Roschelle, Jamel and Darren Steinmetz, all at home; one brother, Larry Kent DeFord of 757 North Fifth Ave.; and one sister, Mrs. John (Trudy Ann) Franciskovich of 1005 South Fourth Ave.

Mr. DeFord was a truck driver for Consolidated Freightways. He was a member of the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Canton and Teamster and Chauffeur’s Local 627 of Peoria. He served with the Marines from 1953 to 1955.

Mr. DeFord is a former Table Grove resident.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ludwig Mortuary in Morton with Robert G. Perry officiating. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery at Tremont.

Memorials may be made to the Donald DeFord Memorial Fund for the children’s education.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 7/30/1975