William R Pulliam

MAPLETON ~ William Roy “Bill” Pulliam, 83, of Mapleton, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, with his loving family at his bedside. He was cared for compassionately and received excellent medical care by the nurses and doctors in the Neuro ICU.

Born September 12, 1932 in Gatewood, Missouri to Russell and Martha (Holland) Pulliam, he married Shirley Ann Rindfleisch on February 11, 1952 in Pocahontas, Arkansas. She died November 22, 2011 in Mapleton. He was also preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Gary Pulliam and David Pulliam; one grandson; four brothers; two sisters; and one son-in-law.

Surviving are his children, Patricia (Gary) Scott of Bartonville, Debra Lash, Ralph Pulliam, Russell Pulliam, Cheryl (Mike) Jegier, and Carrie (Matt) Mahr, all of Pekin and Kevin (May) Pulliam of Tremont; fifteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Bill had worked at Sherex in Mapleton for 32 years, retiring in 1993. He had been an active union member his entire career as well as their chaplain for over 25 years. He later was a bus driver for Illini Bluffs School District for 10 years.

He was a devoted member of LaMarsh Baptist Church in rural Mapleton for the past 55 years, where he was involved with many things at the church including driving and maintaining the church buses.

Bill’s loves were the Lord, his family and friends, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also enjoyed watching WWE Wrestling.

Bill lived for the past year at Kountry View in Hanna City under the loving and professional care of all the nurses, therapists, CNA’s, and manager and assistant manager of Helping Hands Home Healthcare.

His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016 at LaMarsh Baptist Church in Mapleton. Pastor David Sexton and Pastor Randy Tharp will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, and also from noon to 12:45 p.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Maple Ridge Cemetery in Mapleton.

Memorial contributions may be made to LaMarsh Baptist Church Missionary Fund, 9507 West Maple Ridge Road, Mapleton, IL 61547 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com