ROBERT H. WILKINSON

April 27, 2016

CHILLICOTHE, Ill.-Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Weber-Hurd Funeral Home for Robert H. Wilkinson, 84, Chillicothe, who died at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2016, at Heritage Health Care. Burial will be at Chillicothe City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, beginning at 12 noon.

Memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post No. 4999 or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Online condolences may be sent at www.weberhurdfuneralhome.com.

Survivors include one son, Greg Bailey and wife Anne, Petuluma, Calif.; two grandchildren, Christina and TJ Bailey, Petuluma, Calif.; two step-children, Rick Rathbone and wife Emie, Stronghurst and Renee Krudwig, Chillicothe; five step-grandchildren, Kim Rathbone, Nashville, Tenn., Jason Rathbone, Chillicothe, Amy Gaffney and husband Brian, Chillicothe, Jay Krudwig, Naperville and Eric Rathbone, Stronghurst; two step-great-grandchildren, Oliver and Declan Gaffney, Chillicothe and one sister, Bonnie Samuels and husband Bob, Springfield.

He was preceded in death by one brother, J.D. Wilkinson and a step-granddaughter, April Patterson.

Mr. Wilkinson was born Jan. 7, 1932, in Iantha, Mo., to Nina Day and Walter Wilkinson. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having earned a Bronze Star medal while serving in the 3rd Infantry division during the Korean War. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post No. 4999 and Amvets Post No. 64. He was a post District and Division Commander of Amvets.

He loved many things, including blue gill fishing in Bass Lake, Minn., gambling boats, gardening with his friends and monthly chicken fries at the VFW. Over the years he participated in several bowling leagues, achieving a 700 series. He also sponsored “Bob's Babes” Monday housewives bowling league. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks and Bradley Braves Men Basketball; however, his greatest passion were the St. Louis Cardinals.

He married Elsa Ferguson on Aug. 31, 1974, in Chillicothe. She preceded him in death on March 15, 2010.