Larry Gwaltney-Benton, IL

Larry Jay Gwaltney passed away, surrounded by family, at his home in Benton, IL on Monday, February 16, 2026, ending a lengthy battle with cancer.

Larry was born on August 18, 1948, in Evansville, Indiana to J.T. and Helen (Darnell) Gwaltney. He grew up in the Mill Shoals area of White County, Illinois. He graduated from Mills Prairie High School in 1966 and from SIU-C in 1970 with bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Ag Education.

After serving in the Army (1971-73), he worked as a welder for a few months before beginning his teaching career at Centralia High School. Through the years, he obtained additional degrees and training to equip him for coaching and a variety of teaching positions in English, journalism, graphic arts, industrial technology, and photography, as well as school guidance counselor. He worked in photography at SEMO in Cape Girardeau and taught at Fairfield High School, Allendale High School, Gillespie High School, Webber High School in Bluford, and Carmi-White County Middle School. He retired from teaching in 2009 and then worked as a night custodian at USI until 2013. While teaching, he also served as bi-vocational pastor/supply preacher in several rural churches. Since retirement, he has used his teaching skills with youth classes at North Benton Baptist Church.

Larry is survived by his wife of 37 years, Brenda (Seibert) Gwaltney, the couple’s one son, Jonathan Jay Gwaltney, his wife Cassandra and their daughter Juliette. Other survivors include one sister, Brenda Kay Pyle, brother- and sister-in-law Larry and Sandra Richmond, 3 nephews and 1 niece and their spouses, 2 great nephews, 6 great nieces, and numerous cousins.

Larry’s favorite things were time spent with family and friends, personal Bible study and prayer (especially in “his corner” of the sunporch), “the HILL” (farm where he grew up), gardening, and southern gospel music. Larry was known for his generous heart and his care of others. He enjoyed sharing his garden produce.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, J.T. & Helen (Darnell) Gwaltney; his in-laws, Ralph and Louise Seibert; infant sister Ruth Ann; brother Jimmie Gwaltney; and his brother-in-law, John Pyle.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 19, 2026, followed by a celebration of life service at 1:00 P.M. at the Morton & Johnson Funeral Home in Benton, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN or Adult Teen Challenge Mid-America (directed for Deborah’s House, the new facility for women) in Cape Girardeau, MO and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com