Warren G Reynolds

Peoria- Warren Gene Reynolds, age 83, of Peoria, IL, passed away on January 27, 2015 at 1:38 pm.

Warren was born on July 21, 1931, in East Peoria, IL, to Peyton and Lura Black Reynolds. He married Carol Rosine Ackerman on June 9, 1961 in Peoria, IL.

He is survived by his wife, their daughters Lorie (Robert) Becraft of Germantown Hills and Leslie (Joshua Walkowicz) Reynolds of Colorado, son Charles (Shari) Reynolds of Morton, and four grandchildren, Jacob and Aly Becraft and Sarah and Regan Reynolds.

Warren attended Bradley University on a scholarship earning Bachelor and Masters Degrees, and serving as elected President of student government. He also served on the Bradley Forensics Team for four years and was active in the band, chorus and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

He joined Keystone Steel & Wire Company upon graduation and served the company for 30 years, beginning as Community Relations Representative and advancing to Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Keystone Consolidated Industries, supervising five departments.

He started and ran several small businesses, owned and managed rental properties, managed the Illinois office of Tucker and Branham, mortgage bankers, held a real estate broker’s license and was office manager to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Heiple.

He was an active member of First United Methodist Church, Peoria and a member of its Wesley Class. He served six years on the Peoria City Council; eight years on the Peoria County Board, and was the first to serve two consecutive terms as County Board Chairman. Warren appointed the first committee to study the feasibility of a Peoria Civic Center.

He was on numerous boards of not-for-profit agencies: Dirkson Center for Congressional Leadership, Forest Park Foundation, PARC, Peoria Community Action Agency, Peoria Symphony Board, Salvation Army, Boyce Council Boy Scouts, Child and Family Service, and Peoria Players. He also served as President of the Bradley Alumni Association Board, President of the Peoria Historical Society, President of the East Peoria JayCees and President of the Peoria Downtown Kiwanis Club.

Visitation will be from Noon to 3:00 pm Sunday, February 1, 2015 at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, February 2, 2015 with additional visitation one hour prior to services, with the Rev. Pastor Bob Phillips officiating. Burial will follow at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

Memorials may be made to the Reynolds Endowed Scholarship at Bradley University or to First United Methodist Church of Peoria for the Transforming Lives Building Fund.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.woolsey-wilton.com