Ruel D. Hooper, 90, of Centralia, Ill., formerly of De Soto, died Sept. 28, 2026, at SSM-Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ill. Mr. Hooper was a maintenance supervisor at Alvey, Inc. and had served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Born Jan. 22, 1936, in New Liberty, he was the son of the late William Edgar and Lilly Ella (Reed) Hooper.
He was preceded in death by three wives: Marilyn (Davis) Hooper, Betty Jean (Anderson) Hooper and Karen Laswell.
He is survived by four children: Richard (the late Resa) Laswell of Jackson, Miss., Phillip (Glenda) Laswell of Bonnieville, Ky., Christine (Frank) Brandon of Kinmundy, Ill., and Deana Hooper of Delaware, Ohio; five grandchildren: Brandi (Mike) Ortt of O'Fallon, Rebecca Jones of Fairbanks, Alaska, Stephan Manning of Phoenix, Ariz., Jacob Brandon of Salem, Ill., and Grace (late Tim) Smith of Naples, Fla.; and six great-grandchildren: Emmaleigh Brandon, Elisa Smith, Olivia Ortt, Kathryn Ortt, Kane Joliff and Luca Brandon.
He also was preceded in death by all his siblings.
Visitation is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 3, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., in De Soto. A graveside service and interment will follow at 12:30 p.m. in Rose Lawn Cemetery in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.