Members New & Past in Memoriam
GJB Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution
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New Members
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Mark Gurra Mark Gurra, a resident of Burbank, IL, was accepted into the SAR December 20, 2024. Married to Amy for 31 years, he has one daughter, Miranda, and is a cousin to Jay Cummins. He has a degree in Criminal Justice and is a retired police sergeant of the Burbank Police Department. Mark’s patriot is same as Jayʼs, Captain Henry Garrett, who served in the Louisa Co., VA Militia and was a Clerk of the Committee of Safety in 1775. Mark will be transferring to the Fox Valley chapter later this year.
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Gary Langston, a resident of Kokomo, IN, was accepted into the SAR on January 20, 2025. Retired from Delco, Gary has lived in Kokomo for more than 60 years. He is married with six children, including Cindy Cummins, Jay Cummins’ wife. Gary is a descendant of Solomon Langston of Laurens, South Carolina, serving under Colonel Wolford and General Williamson.
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Steve Jiles with GJBSAR President, Jay Cummins
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Steven Eugene Jiles, a resident of Bloomington IL, was accepted to the SAR on February 6, 2025. He married Carolyn Brinson Hall in 1980. Steve Jiles is a direct descendent of Amasa Spencer, who served as Private under Captains Williams, Morgan and Fenkway; and Colonels Lucas, Cocke and Lynch.
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Clay Held with GJBSAR President, Jay Cummins
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Clayton Kupel (Clay) Held, a resident of Clinton IL, was accepted to the SAR on January 24, 2025. He married Katrina Lynn Willis in 2007. He is the son-in-law of GJBSAR compatriot, Terry Willis. Clay received a BA – English from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, Spring of 2006. He is a professional software engineer who has worked in tech for 19 years and is currently starting a nonprofit to help revitalize his community. Clay is a direct descendent David Peebles, who rendered material aid and served as a juror (presumably in Georgia).
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The Roberts family of SAR members, Kyle, Keith (father), and Brandon
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Brandon Michael Roberts, a resident of Normal IL, was accepted to the SAR on February 6, 2025. He married Mary Elizabeth Chambers in 2013. Brandon and Mary have two kids: son Silas (4) and daughter Isla (1). Brandon is son of GJBSAR compatriot Kevin Roberts and brother to fellow new GJBSAR member Kyle Roberts.
Kyle Scott Roberts, a resident of Morton IL, was accepted to the SAR on February 6, 2025. He married Kaeli Marie Chenoweth in August 2021. He is son of GJBSAR compatriot Kevin Roberts and brother to fellow new GJBSAR member Brandon Roberts. Brandon, Kyle, and their father, Kevin Roberts are direct descendents of Jonathan Houghton, who served as Lieutenant in Captain Benjamin Hasting’s Company/Colonel Whitcomb’s Regiment which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775 to Cambridge. Jonathan was in a list of officers belonging to Colonel Asa Whetcomb’s regiment. He was Captain in the 4th Company/Colonel Josiah Whitney’s regiment, commissioned March 20, 1776. Jonathan was Captain in Colonel Jonathan Smithʼs regiment. He was also Captain of a company of 78 men, which marched northward to Canada on July 22, 1776 under command of Colonel Smith. |
New member, Rob Williams, with his brother, Dave Williams, both now members of GJBSAR.
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Robert George (Rob) Williams The GJB Chapter is pleased to welcome Robert George Williams as a new SAR member, accepted January 24, 2025. Rob Williams is a Senior Vice President with Primerica Financial Services in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Additionally, as a veteran he held the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force and served as a Senior Navigator.
Rob shares a common ancestor with his brother, GJB member David Williams, in the form of patriot Private Isaac Clason (P-346561). The family lineage of Rob and David can be traced back to colonial genealogical records dating back to the 1650s in New England. Isaac Clason served as a private in the Connecticut Militia during the Revolutionary War, primarily responsible for guarding the coastline and Fort Stamford. Rob Williams will be formally recognized as a new member at a future GJB meeting. |
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Kurt Rudsinski. GJBSAR is always thrilled to add new members, but it is extra special when a father can welcome his son into the chapter! Kurt Rudsinski (left) was recently welcomed into the GJBSAR Chapter by his father, Sonny (right).
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March 2025 New Members. Jay Cummins, GJB President, followed by new members Kyle & Brandon Roberts, Bob Harschbarger for sons Tim & Michael, Steve Jiles, and Clay Held
November 2024 New Members: Rick Milner, Chair of the Membership Committee (Left) and Jay Cummins, GJB President (Far Right) welcome three new GJBSAR members: James "Jay" Herrman, Tony Norman, and Kevin Crutcher
October 2024 New Members: President Jay Cummins (left) with new GJB SAR Chapter members Terry Willis, Jeff Stout, Todd Smith, Dale Simpson, Rodger Salzman, and Kevin Roberts
June 2024 New Members: : Membership Chair Rick Milner, Registrar/Genealogist Steve Kern, new member Robert Harshbarger, new member Steve Shipley, new member Calvin Lunny, and President Jay Cummins.
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Members Past in Memoriam |
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Remembering Virgil Short 1938 – 2024
A Tribute to Dr. Virgil Short In the military, especially among the officers, new members of a unit are welcomed and those leaving are bid farewell. In truth, the welcomes are much less fulsome than the farewells are moving. To see combat tried veterans weep on saying good-bye tells anyone the deep sense of loss felt by those left to await their own “farewell”. On Monday, September 30, we said a tearful “farewell” to our Physician, friend, family man and Patriot, Dr. Virgil Short. I hope Virgil will forgive my metaphor for, as a Physician during the Viet Nam War, he witnessed the carnage of war and the wastefulness of human life. He was my personal physician for over 20 years, and we would often discuss the terrible experience — Virgil from the Medical professional side, me from the patient side. Frankly, my view was much more favorable than his, but then I had people, like Virgil, ministering to me. I was the beneficiary of the courage and skill of people like Virgil, as well as Nurse Pat Navarro, who became his beloved wife. Of course, as we aged, we were extremely proud of our children. Thomas, now a full Colonel in the Marine Corps, and Cindy and their grandson, Lincoln, were the topic of many discussions. He even forgave me for boasting of my own daughter, an attorney. Love of family was his badge of honor. Virgil joined the Sons of the American Revolution and, of course, assumed a leadership role in putting together the newsletter but is most remembered for his thoughtful and uplifting prayers with which he started our meetings. Virgil had an abiding faith in his Lord, was proud of his Revolutionary forebearers, but not so smug as to look down on those, like me, who are children of immigrants. Virgil lived by the rule that it is in the value of one’s character that one earns respect, not the birth of ancestors. What else would you expect from the son of the small agricultural county of Montgomery, Illinois? Virgil’s character was exemplary. Long time President of the GJB Chapter, SAR Gordon Bidner said, “Calling Dr. Short an ‘essential GJB SAR member’ is to honor his participation and many contributions to the GJB SAR Chapter over his years of membership, Nov. 8, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2024. It was my honor and pleasure over my thirty-three years of membership to know and work with many talented and devoted Patriots and Dr. Short would be one of the top tier of these individuals.” As the members of GJB gathered to pay our respects to Dr. Short and express our condolences to Pat, Col. Short and Cindy, those same tears I remember from days past flowed from the mourners. Each of us could say to ourselves, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Until we meet again." Submitted by GJBSAR member, Dan Leifel |
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Remembering K. Lee Wilder 1936 – 2024
Emeritus Gordon Bidner, received a call from Dorla Wilder on June 15 that her husband, GJB SAR Compatriot K. Lee Wilder, passed away on April 22 at Carle Health Methodist Medical Center in Peoria. Lee was accepted by NSSAR on November 8, 1971, almost 45 years ago, with direct lineage to our chapter’s namesake, General Joseph Bartholomew. This Pekin resident was most recently an Emeritus member. According to his obituary in the Delavan Newspaper and online, Lee “was born … during a Christmas dinner at his Grandmother’s house in Chenoa, the son of Grant and Marjory (Fincham) Wilder. He married Bernadette Krolak in Peru, Illinois on November 26, 1958. He later married Dorla (Van Dyke) Souba, who he had known since second grade, on May 30, 2012, in Pekin. He is survived by his wife, Dorla, a daughter, Melissa (Todd) Kissinger of Pekin, and two sons, Michael (Gail) Wilder of Bettendorf, Iowa and Deacon Mark (Susan) Wilder of Pekin; a step-son, Monte (Julie) Squier of Augusta, Georgia; 2 stepdaughters, Nelena (Lee) White and Kim (Larry) Brown, both of Pekin; a stepdaughter-in-law, Jamie Squier of Morton; 11 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, a niece and nephew, a great-niece, 2 great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Rahn; a stepson, Kelly Squier; and a step-grandson, Seth White. His memberships have included: Charter Member of the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society; Delavan Community Historical Society; Sons of the American Revolution, Society of the War of 1812; Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; and several genealogical societies in other states. Lee owned Human Resources, Inc, and Ghosthunters Genealogical Services and was involved in numerous civic/volunteer organizations. Submitted by GJBSAR Member, Rick Milner |
