WILLISVILLE, Alva Bense, 88, of Willisville, passed away at11:30 P.M. Monday, September 21, 2009, at Pinckneyville Health Care in Pinckneyville, IL. Alva was born October 03, 1920 in Campbell Hill, Illinois the son of Arnold Bense and Elsie (Gerberding) Bense. He married Wanda Mae Bailey on May 5, 1945 in Campbell Hill, IL. She preceded him in death on February 14, 2001. Alva was a 20 veteran Sergeant First Class of the Army having served in WWII and the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL and a life member of the V.F.W. Alva is survived by four children, Alan (June) Bense of Murphysboro, IL, Kathryn Griffiths of Willisville, IL, Delma Rubach of Steeleville, IL and Tom (Sandy) Bailey of Pontiac, IL; 12 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Alberta McKelvey of Los Angeles, CA, Sylvia Grah of Tacoma, WA, Delores Craig of DuQuoin, IL, Lucille Dailey of Burbank, CA, Mildred Jaimet of Lenzburg, IL, Zelda Elgbert of Dallas, TX, Lester Bense of Bellingham, WA, Junior Bense of Bowling Green, KY and Larry Bense of Kissimmee, FL. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill with Rev. Gregory J. Schultz officiating. Burial will follow at Percy Village Cemetery in Percy, IL. Visitation will be held at Wilson's Funeral Home, Steeleville on Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm and on Thursday from 7:30 to 9 am and on Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Campbell Hill from 10 to 11 am. Memorials may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church Building Fund.