William LeRoy Barber, 94, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Friday, January 29, 2016 at Pleasant View Luther Home.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory with Pastor David E. Daniel officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., two hours prior to the services, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park, with full military rites.
William was born September 7, 1921 in Tuttle, North Dakota to James M. and Geraldine (Alder) Barber. The Barber family moved to Watseka, IL when Bill was young. He graduated from Watseka High School, where he lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track. He attended Western Illinois University and following his military service, he attended Coyne Electric School in Chicago.
Bill enlisted in the Marine Corp in WWII, serving in campaigns in Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu. While in the Pacific Islands, he was assigned to communications. His second tour of duty in the Pacific was in the Marine Air Force as a radio operator.
In 1945, he married the former Leona Amacher of Watseka and they moved to Ottawa. Leona died in 1985. Bill worked at LOF, and retired after 34 years of service. He married Lorraine (Barron) Riordan in 1986, and they moved to Keowee Key in South Carolina, where they lived for 21 years before moving back to Ottawa in 2013.
He is survived by his daughter Joyce Hoskins of Eagen, MN; son Michael L. Barber of Coralville, IA; five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. He is also survived by five stepchildren: Karen (Murat) Ozbek of Sparks, NV; Kalah (John) Considine of Naperville, IL; Patrick (Lydia) Riordan of Austin, TX; Mary Beth Riordan (Hilton Davis) of Springfield, VA and Anne Riordan (Don Wisniewski) of South Bend, IN; eleven step-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leona, brothers Charles W. Barber and James Barber, sister Lucille Marcier, and wife Lorraine.
A proud member of the American Legion, Post 33 in Ottawa, Bill was an avid fisherman and golfer, still playing golf into his 90’s.
Pallbearers will be Marc Hoskins, Thomas Nixon, Pat Riordan, Don Wisniewski, Eric Fruland, and John Considine. Paul Baker will be an honorary pallbearer.
Memorials may be directed to donor’s choice.
Bill is laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.