RICHARD E. BILDERBACK

Richard E. Bilderback, 88, of 5331 Columbus Road, formerly of the Augusta and Bowen area, died at 10:20 p.m. Friday (February 8, 2008) in Blessing Hospital.

Born September 16, 1919 near Huntsville, IL, Richard was the son of Troy P. and Lula Mae Waner Bilderback. He married Lola Ruth Diehl on July 18, 1952 in West Point. She survives.

Richard was a member of the West Point Methodist Church. He was a 1938 graduate of Augusta High School and a 50 year member of the Denver Masonic Lodge #464 and the Quincy Consistory. He was also a member of the Quincy American Legion Post #37. Richard was an Army veteran of WWII serving in the Southwest Pacific for 13 months. He was in the 129th Infantry Regiment-37th Division.

He farmed in the Huntsville area until 1942 when he entered the U.S. Army. After his discharge, he farmed in the Bowen-West Point area and operated a small trucking and custom corn shelling business. He retired in 1982 when he and his wife moved to Quincy. He then did maintenance work at Hardee's for 19 years and janitorial work at Quincy Farm & Home for several years.

Survivors include a son Bradley Bilderback of Quincy; three daughters Bernadette Harrison of Elemdorf, TX, Gwendolyn Wesselman of Quincy and Lana Bilderback of Belleville; two grandchildren, Megan Wesselman of Hannibal and Kara Wesselman of Richland, WA; one great grandchild Matthew Wesselman of Hannibal, MO; a brother Troy Junior Bilderback and his wife Mary of Quincy; a sister Virginia Kearby and her husband Gene of LaPrairie; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Bilderback was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister Marilyn Jean Bilderback and a sister Eileen Laxy.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10:00 in the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home by the Rev. Oliver Taube and Rev. Wally Carlson. Burial with Military Honors by the Augusta VFW Post #9029 and the Plymouth American Legion Post #912 will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Augusta.

Visitation will be held Monday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 and until the time of services on Tuesday at the funeral home. Denver Masonic Lodge #464 will conduct a Masonic service Monday evening at 7:00 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Woodlawn Cemetery, WTJR TV or to the Judy Alderson Cancer Foundation.