GALESBURG - William Robert Babbitt, 566 E. South St, died at 4 a m Monday (Jan. 15. 2001) in Galesburg Cottage Hospital, 695 N. Kellogg St.
He was born Nov 5, 1941 in Galesburg, the son of Marcel Ray and Nina Eileen Avery Babbitt.
He married Glendora Piimauna in Hawaii. He married Phyllis Lutrell in Galesburg.
Surviving are four sons, William Babbitt, Honolulu, Hawaii, Timothy Babbitt. East Galesburg, and Michael Babbitt and Jeff Babbitt, both of San Diego. Calif. his grandmother, Lennie Avery, Galesburg; one stepbrother, Dave Guenther, Galesburg, a special friend who cared for him, Barbara Wright, Galesburg. and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his step mother, Margaret Babbitt.
He lived most of his life in Galesburg and was graduated from Galesburg High School.
He was an engineer for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad for 37 years, retiring Jan. 7, 2001.
A Navy veteran, he served during the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
He was of Methodist faith. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and an 8-year member Alcoholics Anonymous.
Funeral will be at 1 p. m. Friday in Hinchliff-Pearson-West Chapel, with the Rev E. Paul Unger officiating. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p. m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the Galesburg Rescue Mission and to the American Cancer Society.