W.R. "Bill" McGrew

PEKIN ~ Wilford Roland "Bill" McGrew, 91, of Pekin, passed away at 12:05 p.m. Monday, December 28, 2009 at Pekin Hospital.Born March 29, 1918 in Mason County to Willard J. and Iva Marie (Van Etten) McGrew, he married Ruby Eileen Preston on August 13, 1939 in Anoka, Missouri.  She died August 22, 2001 in Peoria.  He also was preceded in death by his parents.Surviving are one daughter, Sharon K. "Sharry" (Stephen) Myers of Florissant, MO; two grandchildren, Stephen D. Myers of St. Louis, MO and Susan D. (Patrick) Wells of Hazelwood, MO; two great-grandchildren, Tyler P. Wells and Ryan Wells; two brothers, Burel N. McGrew and John H. (Anna Lou) McGrew, both of Havana and two sisters, Ilda L. Snowden of Monmouth and Nellie E. Quinn of Davenport, IA.  He also leaves a special niece, Rosemary (Randy) Mingus in Pekin and a dear friend and fellow Cubs fan, Lucille Snedden of Pekin.Bill worked as the manager for Middle States Telephone Company in Pekin, later was the division commercial manager in Park Ridge and then became state manager for Central Telephone Company in Park Ridge.  He also worked five years for Central Telephone Company of North Carolina until 1965 and transferred to work in Park Ridge from 1965 to 1974.  In 1974, he became State Manager for Central Telephone in Las Vegas and retired on January 1, 1984 as the vice-president of Central Telephone of Nevada.  He worked a total of 47 ½ years for CENTEL.He was a life and 60-year member of Empire Lodge 126, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Pekin.  He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America in Park Ridge and Las Vegas and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.  He was a former member of the Rotary Club of Las Vegas, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.  He was a former Kiwanis Club member in Hickory, NC, Park Ridge and Pekin.  Bill was past president of the Pekin Kiwanis Club.  He was a former member of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and a former member and past president of the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce.  He was a past chairman of the Park Ridge United Way.  He was the first Chairman of the Nevada Development Authority in Las Vegas.He enjoyed hunting and fishing and formerly attended First United Methodist Church in Pekin.His funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel.  The Rev. Dr. Phillip Icenogle will officiate.  Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Central Illinois Chapter, 606 West Glen Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.