Ralph E Wilson

Born December 26, 1932 in Beebe, Arkansas to Jess Earl and Delpha May (Kelly) Wilson, he married Mary JoAnn Howell on July 11, 1953 in Beebe, Arkansas.  She died October 1, 2011 in Peoria.  He was also preceded in death by his parents; one grandson; one great-grandson; and one brother.

Surviving are three daughters, Barb Pshebelski and Kathy (Vernon) Huff, both of Bellevue, and Carlene (Daniel) Cook of Canton; five sons, Edwin (Lurla) Wilson of Peoria, Don (Jean) Wilson of East Peoria, Mark (Dawn) Wilson of Trivoli, and Bobby Wilson and Steve (Jenny) Wilson, both of Bellevue; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; one brother, Hubert Eugene Wilson of Jasper, Arkansas; and one sister, Mildred Hough of Kansas City, Missouri.

Ralph was currently serving as Mayor for the village of Bellevue since being elected in April of 2013.  He also served as Mayor from 1997 to 2009 and had served on the village board for 2 years. 

He had worked at Broderick & Bascom Rope Company in Bartonville and later was employed by the Village of Bellevue Street Department for over 20 years, retiring in 1997.  He also had owned and operated Ralph Wilson Excavating.

Ralph's family fondly remembers piling into their little blue bus and traveling to Mountain Home, Arkansas for family vacations for many years.  He also enjoyed fishing and was a member of the Hiram Walker Club in Middle Grove

His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  Robert Heiple will officiate.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Smithville Cemetery in rural Hanna City.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.