Donald F Ross

Born March 7, 1925 in Bushnell to David Jesse and Bertha (Glines) Ross, he married Natalie E. Vaughn on September 24, 1984 in Henderson, Kentucky. She died March 15, 2011 in Morton. He also was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.

Surviving are two daughters, Barbara (Bob) Hofmann of Morton and Debra (Mel) Caldwell of Union, Missouri; two sons, Larry (Sandra) Wilhelm of Pekin and Tom (Beverly) Wilhelm of Loveland, Colorado; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Don served in the United States Navy during World War II and later served in the United States Army during the Korean War.

A graduate of Western Illinois University in Macomb, Don taught school in Prophetstown and later for Forman High School in Manito for 15 years. While at Forman he taught science, biology, driver’s education, and coached basketball and football. He later worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 12 years, retiring in 1985 from the Mapleton plant.

Don was a member of New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw; the LAFRA (Fleet Reserve); American Legion; Scottish Rites Bodies, Valley of Peoria; Illinois Education Association; Retired Teachers Association. He was a life and 66 year member of Empire Masonic Lodge #126 A.F. & A.M. in Pekin. He was a former member of the Pekin Moose Family Center #916 in Pekin and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, where visitation will be one hour before the funeral. The Rev. Ralph Bauer will officiate. Cremation will follow the funeral and burial of the cremated remains will be in Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield at a later date, where military rites will be accorded.

Memorial contributions may be made to New Castle Bible Church, 17931 Dee-Mack Road, Mackinaw, IL 61755 or to the American Red Cross, 311 West John H. Gwynn Jr. Avenue, Peoria, IL 61605.

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