Mr. Frederick V. McWherter, Sr., age 80, was born in East St. Louis, IL on August 17, 1940 to Mr. Rudolph McWherter and Ms. Annie B. Yates.

He grew up in Fireworks Station and graduated from Cahokia High School in 1957.

After completion of his each early childhood education, Frederick enlisted in the United States Army, achieving the rank of Sargent. He traveled to many exotic places and had many exciting adventures. Upon receiving Honorable Discharge, he started raising a family. He was an excellent provider and teacher of many things.

In his younger days, he always loved tinkering with old cars, wheeling and dealing to acquire a new one, fishing in the lake and being a man about town. Frederick enjoyed life immensely. If you were lucky enough to have a conversation with him, he would always give that mischievous grin.

Frederick met and married the love of his life, Ms., Gloria Jean Chandler. He loved helping his devoted wife with the day care operation, she successfully operated before retiring. He and his wife loved to travel and see new places such as Hawaii and Paris among many. Frederick was his wife's best friend, confidant and stanches supporter.

"Freddie" as some would call him, had the gift of gab, prided himself on looking his best.

He had many jobs during his life. He operated a small corner grocery store in Saint Louis in the early 70's; worked as a meat cutter for the Kroger Corporation; became a barber shop owner; owner and operator of his own pawn retail shop; and pastored the First Freewill Baptist Church in Sparta, Illinois. Freddie also worked at Illinois Power in Baldwin, Illinois until the time of his retirement at age fifty-five, in the mid 90's.

One of Frederick's proudest achievements was being inducted into the Masonic Society.

Those preceding him in death: his father, Rudolph McWherter; his mother, Annie Yates-Randall; and his sisters, Harriett (Beatrice) Avant-Fowler and Bernice Randall.

His life and legacy will be cherished by his loving wife ~ Gloria J. McWherter; his one and only brother-in-law ~ Sherman Fowler; three daughters ~ Floria (Ronald Sr.) Densmore, Portia (Kent) Young and Patrice (Ronald) Wilkes; four sons ~ Frederick V. McWherter, Jr., Van Perry, Ronnie Perry and Carl Chandler; eleven grandchildren ~ Ronika Perry, Ashley Densmore, Ronald Densmore Jr., Ryan Densmore, Darius McWherter, Vanessa Keifer, Kimberly McWherter, Kaitlyn McWherter, Michael Douglas, Leeya Douglas and Alexandria (Devin) Wimbley; great grandchildren ~Sydney Mason and Sophia Wimbley, E'myni Triplett, Jaylon Harris, Mason Perry and Tay'ah Mason; other family member and friends.