Richard T. Westbrook, 79, of Somonauk, IL passed away on Friday, January 30, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Dick was born on June 24, 1929 the son of William A. and Mildred S. Westbrook. He married Norma Jean Gletty in 1949. Richard was a Korean War Veteran and was honored with a purple heart for injuries sustained in the war.
He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge since the mid sixties and was also a member of the Sandwich VFW. In 1967, Dick married Cynthia Dewey and raised his family in Somonauk. He was a member of the only Somonauk Bobcat basketball team that ever went downstate in 1943.
His earliest job was working with his father and grandfather in their grain elevator business. After he returned from Korea, he and his brothers founded Wesco Gas & Electronics. He was an electrician for many years and wired many of the original homes in Lake Holiday during its inception. He also was a realtor for many years.
In 1946, without his parent's knowledge of his whereabouts, Dick would either bicycle or hitch rides on paving trucks to the Sandwich Airport and take flying lessons with money earned from a paper route. He would become one of the first 10 people to solo at the then new Sandwich Airport. All three of his sons, and one of his grandsons, followed in his footsteps and became licensed pilots.
He loved his family as well as his backyard friends.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy; three sons, Rick (Dee) Westbrook, Mick (Sheryl) Westbrook and their children, Mike (Virginia) and Joe; Tim (Beth) Westbrook and their children, Mitchell, Drew and Aubrey; two daughters, Becky (Hank) Whitehead and their son, Jim and Lisa (Kevin) Brockman and their children, Krista (Matthew) Hoffman, Kevin John (Debi) and Kaitlyn; he also has three great-grandchildren, Sophia Westbrook, Lilly and Leah Brockman; two brothers, William S. (Betty) Westbrook and David H. (June) Westbrook; one sister, Margaret Hedreen; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Norma; his parents; one brother, Charles; and one sister, Kathleen.
A private funeral service for family members will be held Monday, February 2nd at the United Presbyterian Church in Somonauk, with Pastor Jane Bunnell officiating. Internment will be at the Oak Mound Cemetery Somonauk.
Arrangements were entrusted to Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Presbyterian Church of Somonauk, the Open Door of Sandwich or the American Cancer Society.
For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.TurnerBurkhartFH.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. RT 34
Somonauk, IL 60552
(815) 498-2363
Published in the Beacon News on 2/1/2009
Dick was born on June 24, 1929 the son of William A. and Mildred S. Westbrook. He married Norma Jean Gletty in 1949. Richard was a Korean War Veteran and was honored with a purple heart for injuries sustained in the war.
He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge since the mid sixties and was also a member of the Sandwich VFW. In 1967, Dick married Cynthia Dewey and raised his family in Somonauk. He was a member of the only Somonauk Bobcat basketball team that ever went downstate in 1943.
His earliest job was working with his father and grandfather in their grain elevator business. After he returned from Korea, he and his brothers founded Wesco Gas & Electronics. He was an electrician for many years and wired many of the original homes in Lake Holiday during its inception. He also was a realtor for many years.
In 1946, without his parent's knowledge of his whereabouts, Dick would either bicycle or hitch rides on paving trucks to the Sandwich Airport and take flying lessons with money earned from a paper route. He would become one of the first 10 people to solo at the then new Sandwich Airport. All three of his sons, and one of his grandsons, followed in his footsteps and became licensed pilots.
He loved his family as well as his backyard friends.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy; three sons, Rick (Dee) Westbrook, Mick (Sheryl) Westbrook and their children, Mike (Virginia) and Joe; Tim (Beth) Westbrook and their children, Mitchell, Drew and Aubrey; two daughters, Becky (Hank) Whitehead and their son, Jim and Lisa (Kevin) Brockman and their children, Krista (Matthew) Hoffman, Kevin John (Debi) and Kaitlyn; he also has three great-grandchildren, Sophia Westbrook, Lilly and Leah Brockman; two brothers, William S. (Betty) Westbrook and David H. (June) Westbrook; one sister, Margaret Hedreen; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Norma; his parents; one brother, Charles; and one sister, Kathleen.
A private funeral service for family members will be held Monday, February 2nd at the United Presbyterian Church in Somonauk, with Pastor Jane Bunnell officiating. Internment will be at the Oak Mound Cemetery Somonauk.
Arrangements were entrusted to Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Presbyterian Church of Somonauk, the Open Door of Sandwich or the American Cancer Society.
For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.TurnerBurkhartFH.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. RT 34
Somonauk, IL 60552
(815) 498-2363
Published in the Beacon News on 2/1/2009
Richard T. Westbrook, 79, of Somonauk, IL passed away on Friday, January 30, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Dick was born on June 24, 1929 the son of William A. and Mildred S. Westbrook. He married Norma Jean Gletty in 1949. Richard was a Korean War Veteran and was honored with a purple heart for injuries sustained in the war.
He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge since the mid sixties and was also a member of the Sandwich VFW. In 1967, Dick married Cynthia Dewey and raised his family in Somonauk. He was a member of the only Somonauk Bobcat basketball team that ever went downstate in 1943.
His earliest job was working with his father and grandfather in their grain elevator business. After he returned from Korea, he and his brothers founded Wesco Gas & Electronics. He was an electrician for many years and wired many of the original homes in Lake Holiday during its inception. He also was a realtor for many years.
In 1946, without his parent's knowledge of his whereabouts, Dick would either bicycle or hitch rides on paving trucks to the Sandwich Airport and take flying lessons with money earned from a paper route. He would become one of the first 10 people to solo at the then new Sandwich Airport. All three of his sons, and one of his grandsons, followed in his footsteps and became licensed pilots.
He loved his family as well as his backyard friends.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy; three sons, Rick (Dee) Westbrook, Mick (Sheryl) Westbrook and their children, Mike (Virginia) and Joe; Tim (Beth) Westbrook and their children, Mitchell, Drew and Aubrey; two daughters, Becky (Hank) Whitehead and their son, Jim and Lisa (Kevin) Brockman and their children, Krista (Matthew) Hoffman, Kevin John (Debi) and Kaitlyn; he also has three great-grandchildren, Sophia Westbrook, Lilly and Leah Brockman; two brothers, William S. (Betty) Westbrook and David H. (June) Westbrook; one sister, Margaret Hedreen; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Norma; his parents; one brother, Charles; and one sister, Kathleen.
A private funeral service for family members will be held Monday, February 2nd at the United Presbyterian Church in Somonauk, with Pastor Jane Bunnell officiating. Internment will be at the Oak Mound Cemetery Somonauk.
Arrangements were entrusted to Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Presbyterian Church of Somonauk, the Open Door of Sandwich or the American Cancer Society.
For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.TurnerBurkhartFH.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. RT 34
Somonauk, IL 60552
(815) 498-2363
Published in the Beacon News on 2/1/2009
Dick was born on June 24, 1929 the son of William A. and Mildred S. Westbrook. He married Norma Jean Gletty in 1949. Richard was a Korean War Veteran and was honored with a purple heart for injuries sustained in the war.
He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge since the mid sixties and was also a member of the Sandwich VFW. In 1967, Dick married Cynthia Dewey and raised his family in Somonauk. He was a member of the only Somonauk Bobcat basketball team that ever went downstate in 1943.
His earliest job was working with his father and grandfather in their grain elevator business. After he returned from Korea, he and his brothers founded Wesco Gas & Electronics. He was an electrician for many years and wired many of the original homes in Lake Holiday during its inception. He also was a realtor for many years.
In 1946, without his parent's knowledge of his whereabouts, Dick would either bicycle or hitch rides on paving trucks to the Sandwich Airport and take flying lessons with money earned from a paper route. He would become one of the first 10 people to solo at the then new Sandwich Airport. All three of his sons, and one of his grandsons, followed in his footsteps and became licensed pilots.
He loved his family as well as his backyard friends.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy; three sons, Rick (Dee) Westbrook, Mick (Sheryl) Westbrook and their children, Mike (Virginia) and Joe; Tim (Beth) Westbrook and their children, Mitchell, Drew and Aubrey; two daughters, Becky (Hank) Whitehead and their son, Jim and Lisa (Kevin) Brockman and their children, Krista (Matthew) Hoffman, Kevin John (Debi) and Kaitlyn; he also has three great-grandchildren, Sophia Westbrook, Lilly and Leah Brockman; two brothers, William S. (Betty) Westbrook and David H. (June) Westbrook; one sister, Margaret Hedreen; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Norma; his parents; one brother, Charles; and one sister, Kathleen.
A private funeral service for family members will be held Monday, February 2nd at the United Presbyterian Church in Somonauk, with Pastor Jane Bunnell officiating. Internment will be at the Oak Mound Cemetery Somonauk.
Arrangements were entrusted to Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Presbyterian Church of Somonauk, the Open Door of Sandwich or the American Cancer Society.
For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.TurnerBurkhartFH.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. RT 34
Somonauk, IL 60552
(815) 498-2363
Published in the Beacon News on 2/1/2009
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