William “Bill” Blythe, 76, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at his home, surrounded by his family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at St. Columba Church, with Rev. David Kipfer, Pastor, officiating. Entombment will follow at Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 8, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. Due to current State of Illinois guidelines, capacity limitations, social distancing, and face coverings, will be required.
William T. Blythe was born on May 3, 1944 in Chicago to Philip T. and Dorothy (Edwards) Blythe. His parents operated the Glass House retail and growth of plants and fresh flowers in Naperville before moving to Ottawa in 1953. They bought Johnson Flowers at the location it stood then and stands now. Bill was a graduate of North Central College, where he earned his BS in Psychology. He was married to his bride, his high school sweetheart, Susan (Lietz) Blythe on August 19, 1967. Bill enjoyed reading, puzzles, and loved following his grandchildren’s activities.
The couple have three children and eight grandchildren: Thomas (Kerri) Blythe of Salina, KS, and granddaughter, Emilee Blythe, Timothy Blythe, of Mount Pleasant, WI, and grandchildren Ruby, Noelle, and Christian Blythe, and daughter, Lisa (Robert) Snook of Ottawa, and granddaughters Allison, Madison, Molly and Bobbi Sue Snook.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Phyllis Goerling, and Carolyn Nagley.
Bill was the Chairman of the Cancer Fund Drive, Member of the Outstanding Men of Illinois, President of Jaycees, Chairman of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and he chaired the 125th Anniversary of the City of Ottawa under Mayor Jim Thomas. He assisted with the Miss Ottawa Pageant, served as the President of the Miss Illinois Pageant, attended the Miss America Pageant several times, and served as judge for pageants in Illinois, Florida, Nebraska, and Iowa. He was Executive Director of the Illinois State Floral Association for 15 years and started a five-state yearly meeting which became a national organization, National Alliance of Floral Association, to help floral association executives share common interests and problems. After 63 years, he sold Blythe Flowers to his valued and very talented employee, Tina Davis and her husband Nick.
Pallbearers will be Noel Lietz, Dr. Nicholas Tabor, Jay Harvey, David Mennie, Larry Brown, Craig Godwin, Nick Davis, and Larry Snook.
He was laid to rest in the Sanctuary of Hope.