CENTRALIA — Lonnie D. Backs, 69, of Centralia, passed away Friday, April 28, 2023.

He was born July 17, 1953, in Centralia, the son of Marvin Backs and LaVerne (Knollman) Backs. He married Tere Wilkinson on September 26, 1981, and she survives.

In addition to his mother: LaVerne Backs of Centralia, he is also survived by his wife of 41 years: Tere Backs of Centralia; two children: Amy Nichols and husband Jesse of Centralia and Kevin Backs of Centralia; five grandchildren: Brody Nichols, Reed Nichols, Hunter Nichols, Bentley Backs, and Mackenzie Nichols; two sisters Karilyn Stull and husband Johnny of Centralia and Marilyn Stull and husband Richard of Florida; father-in-law: Lewell Wilkinson of Columbia, Missouri; brother-in-law: Kirk Wilkinson and wife Phyllis of Carlyle; sister-in-law: Kris Fry and husband Randy of Hartsburg, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, sister Suzanne Slagley,  brother Gary Backs, and mother-in-law Mary Ann Wilkinson.

Lonnie served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Constellation. He worked at Brenntag Industries for many years. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and hunting. Lonnie always loved drinking  a cold beer with his family and friends.

A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia. Military Honors will be accorded at the funeral home at 7 p.m. by the Centralia American Legion Post 446 and the Centralia V.F.W. Post 2055.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family, who will be choosing a charitable donation facility and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, 618-532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Backs family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook page.