Gillespie, Robert Vernard 1919 - 2001

GILLESPIE, COATE, BAUMAN, THOMPSON

Posted By: Cindy Maust Smith (email)
Date: 10/6/2020 at 19:29:40

The Red Oak Express, Tuesday, July 10, 2001, Red Oak, Iowa, Page 2

Funeral services for Robert Vernard Gillespie, 82, rural Villisca, were Friday, July 6, at the Villisca Methodist Church with Rev. Erik Corely officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak. Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Gillespie died Monday (July 2, 2001).

He was born March 18, 1919 to Eva Coate and the late Vernard Gillespie in Montgomery County, the youngest of five boys. He graduated from Red Oak High School in 1938, where he was active in track and football. He entered the Army Air Corp in 1942 and was in the pilot training program. He married Ruth Bauman Aug. 8, 1949 in Centerville, IA, and brought his bride home to a farm near Red Oak. In 1957, he purchased a farm near Villisca where he actively farmed until 1998. He was an outstanding conservationist, winning district conservation awards. He raised hogs and cattle as well as row crops.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Brent Gillespie; and brothers Eldon, Floyd, and Forrest.

He had two children, Sherry Thompson of Gladstone, MO, and Brent Alan Gillespie; three grandsons, James Thompson III of San Diego, CA, Robert Thompson of Boulder, CO, and Benjamin Thompson of Kansas City, MO; he is survived by his wife, Ruth Gillespie of rural Villisca; one brother and his wife Kenneth and Laurinda Gillespie of rural Red Oak; many nieces and nephews.