Wilfred "Bill" David Corum

Born on January 13, 1932 in Elmwood or as Bill would say, “on the Peoria-Knox County line,” to Lloyd and Sallie Corum, he married Shirley Joan Workman on November 15, 1959 in Williamsfield. She died July 1, 2021 in Charleston. He was also preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Edward Corum and two sisters, Lucille Green and Margaret Taylor.

Surviving are his children, Jan (Dave) VanGorder of Canandaigua, New York and the Rev. Tom (Stephanie) Corum of Frankfort, Kentucky; his grandchildren, Ashleigh (Donovan) Tilk of Fredericktown, Missouri, Jacqueline Corum (Kelley Farley) of Lexington, Kentucky and Benjamin Corum of Richmond, Kentucky; his great-grandsons Henry Tilk (whom he affectionately referred to as Hank) and Wesley Tilk of Fredericktown, Missouri and several nieces and nephews.

Bill was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War.

He had worked as a line inspector for Caterpillar, Inc. Tractor Company in East Peoria for 40 years. Bill was a member, along with Shirley, of the UAW Local 974 Retirees in East Peoria, where he served as secretary and the two of them enjoyed lasting friendships and participated in numerous volunteer activities.

Bill was an outstanding woodworker, craftsman and fixer. He believed that a task worth doing is worth doing well. Bill and Shirley enjoyed doing many projects together at home and in their yard.

Bill enjoyed relaxing by watching television, movies and music videos on YouTube and by using his computer. He also enjoyed telling a good story and quoting lines from his favorite movies. Bill was also very funny and entertained people with his wit and charm.

He was loved by many and he loved. He was a person of faith, and he deeply loved his family. He took great pride in his children and grandchildren and enjoyed providing for them and teaching them.

Bill was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church of Charleston, Illinois. He and his family were most grateful for the steady and loving care of First United Methodist Church of Frankfort, Kentucky, the devoted staff of Dominion Senior Living in Frankfort and Bluegrass Care Navigators.

His funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Rev. Judy Doyle will officiate. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Military rites will be provided by the United States Army and Glasford American Legion Post 35. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to an organization that was very dear to Bill’s heart, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or www.stjude.org

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