Francis W "Butch" Gould

Born December 23, 1917 in Lovington to Frank Otis and Bessie Arabella (Kingery) Gould, he married Marian Etta Weyhrich on November 14, 1953 in Pekin. She died October 13, 2005 in Pekin. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers (Glen Gould and Dave Gould), and two sisters (Norma Fleischauer and Mildred Evans).

Surviving are four sons, Rex (Beverly) Gould of Saint Louis, Missouri, Ross (Diane) Gould and Ray (Joyce) Barnes, both of Pekin, and Roy (Joyce) Barnes of Tucson, Arizona; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and one sister, June Steed of Norman, Oklahoma.

A United States Army veteran of World War II, he served from April 24, 1944 to March 27, 1946. He served in the European Theater and attained the rank of Private First Class.

Butch worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 42 years, retiring in 1981 as a tinner/millwright in the Central Shop in East Peoria.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Pekin, where he was a former usher and dart-ball team member.

Butch enjoyed woodworking. In past years, he enjoyed bowling.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 9, 2006at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pekin. The Rev. Dr. Rodger P. Abatie will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel and also 30 minutes before the funeral Monday at the church. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, where military rites will be accorded by the United States Army and Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 700 South 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.