Robert “Bob” Wayne Whitledge Jr.

Robert “Bob” Wayne Whitledge Jr., 86, of Bartonville, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL. He was born in Warsaw, Illinois, in a 2-room brick house on Clark Street on the west side of town on April 30, 1937.

His parents, Robert Sr. and Hazel Alice (McGee) Whitledge, migrated to Peoria, Illinois when he was only 4.

He was attended to by different nannies while father, Robert Sr., was serving in the Navy in the Pacific, and mother, Hazel, worked various places in Peoria during WWII. He attended almost all the public grade schools in Peoria area. He graduated Reservoir Grade School in 1951 and Woodruff High School in 1955.

He spent 3 years with the US Marine Corps and was stationed several places in the USA and Okinawa, Japan.

He was employed by Keystone Steel and Wire Co. and was in the steel mill, rod dock for 3 years, and 37 years as an electrician in the wire mill.

He was active member of the Marine Corps League and their fun society, Devil Dogs, for over 50 years. During this time, he and his wife, Paula, hosted 5 years of Marine Corps Birthday Balls, including the 200th, which took place in 1975. He also started a unit of Peoria Young Marines, Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets for Peoria-area families, and assisted many other programs for Marines and their families while serving as Commandant for the Peoria Leatherneck Detachment for seven years.

He was a Webloes Leader for the Cub Scouts in Bartonville and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Also, he was a 30-gallon+ blood donor before he lost his eye and nose from an advanced case of skin cancer. Even after, he walked throughout Bartonville picking up litter and was well-loved by the village.

Before all this, he married Paula Sue Bledsoe on May 7, 1960 at St. John’s Catholic Church. Together they served as escorts for Peoria Charter Coach Co for 13 years. Surviving is his widow, Paula, sons John Alan (Missy) and Timothy Wayne (Diana), daughter Carolyn Anne (Adam) Jamsa, a half-sister, Cecilia Reiker (Steve), and seven grandchildren: Bryan (Leila), Nina, Jeffery, Natasha, Molly, Tyler, and Zoe.

The funeral mass will be at St. Ann’s Catholic Church 1009 S. Louisa St., Peoria, IL on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 10:00 AM, and performed by Father Jeremy Freehill. The visitation will be at Endsley-Sedgwick Funeral Home at 1107 W. Garfield, Bartonville from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, March 22, 2024. Burial will follow Mass at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria, IL. To leave an online condolence you may visit www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com. Donations can be made to the Navy Marine Club, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, or St. Jude.