Richard Bartholomew Obituary

RICHARD WAYNE BARTHOLOMEW, 90

Richard "Dick" Bartholomew, of Rockford passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 18, 2013. He was born on July 25, 1922 in Rockford to Vera and Leslie Bartholomew. Dick attended Central High School thru 11th grade until he had to leave to help on the farm. He married Gloria June Baxter on January 15, 1944. They continued to dance together for 67 years until her death on December 4, 2011. Dick was a self-employed farmer for many years and a truck driver at the same time for DeWall Trucking, Chambers Trucking and Chuck Brauer Trucking. He was a member of New Milford United Methodist Church. Dick loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved farming, but most of all driving trucks, no matter what size they were.
Dick is survived by his sons: Thomas (Shelagh) Bartholomew of Lemorre, CA and Leslie (Valerie) Bartholomew of Loves Park; daughters Linda (Dan) Riggins and Carol (Terry) Burns both of Rockford; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Ruth (Wayne) Blunck, Nancy (Thomas) Lounsbury, Bonnie (John) Freeberg; brothers-in-law Dale and Fred (Sue) Baxter; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by wife Gloria, parents and in-laws, brothers Robert (Mildred) and Kenneth (Frances) Bartholomew, sister Betty Ballard, sisters-in-law Peggy (Johnny) Blair and Fumiko Baxter, brothers-in-law Jerry and Richard Baxter, grandson Michael Bartholomew.
Memorials are suggested to New Milford United Methodist Church.
A service to celebrate Dick's life will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday March 26, 2013 at Sunset Funeral Home 8800 N. Alpine Road in Machesney Park with Pastor Megan Smick from New Milford United Methodist Church officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until time of service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com