Bobby G. "Bob" Mayberry

KEWANEE - Bobby G. “Bob” Mayberry, 91, of Kewanee, died at 12:25 a.m., Monday, May 16, 2016 at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m.,Thursday, May 19 at the First United Methodist Church in Kewanee where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. Rev. Paul Copeland will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 18 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Burial will be in Biggsville Cemetery in Biggsville, IL. Memorials may be directed to the Honor Flight or to Relay for Life.

He was born October 4, 1924 at the family home in Norris City, IL, the son of Fredrick Smith and Mattie (Short) Mayberry. He married Colleen M. Gibson on August 4, 1951 in Monmouth, IL. She survives of Kewanee, as do six daughters, Noreen (Terry) Conley of Kewanee, Anne (Rod) Young of Annawan, Jean (Mick) Ostrowski of Cape Coral, FL, Robin (Bill) Hembree of Severna Park, MD, Lorie (Andy) Jackson of Kewanee and Kathy (Raymond) McAfee of Springfield, IL, his sister, Kathleen “Dolly” Racster of Woodbridge, VA, ten grandchildren, Michael (Nikki) Ostrowski, Meghan (David) Keim, Jake (Shelly) Jackson, Nathan (Allison) Young, Jessica (James) Morrison, Alison (Jeff) Petty, Quentin and Isaac Hembree and Ian and Eli McAfee, twenty great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Kenneth, Everett and Dwight and a sister, Irene Naylor.

Bob graduated from Norris City High School in 1942 and he served his country in the Army Air Corp. during WWII and was stationed in Guam. He worked as a head lineman for GTE for 35 years, retiring in 1984. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Telephone Pioneers and a lifetime member of the VFW. He had helped his wife with Girl Scouts and the Salvation Army. Bob knew no stranger and enjoyed helping his neighbors and people of the community. His other enjoyments included treasure hunting and hunting, but mostly just running his hunting dogs. He also enjoyed going to the Sale Barn where his number was 1847 and later was just 47.

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