Robert E Gish

Robert E. Gish, age 92, of West Peoria, passed away Sunday Oct. 4, 2015 at 4:12 a.m. at Proctor Hospital in Peoria. He was born Oct. 20, 1922 in Thomas, OK to Charles and Margaret Wilson Gish. He married Melba Beam July 29, 1950 in Peoria. She passed away Nov. 5, 1997 in Peoria. He was also preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: George, John, Ed, and Raymond, three sisters: Mildred Davis, Margaret Nelson, and Ruth Gish. Survivors include four nieces: Frances (John) Monce, Kathy Nelson, Janet (Lou) Boyer, Judy Gish-Coady, two nephews, Robert (Pat) Nelson, Edmund (Jackie) Gish, numerous great-nieces and nephews, and his High School sweetheart, Doris Bachman, and her children, Tedd Schoch, Jan Schoch-Hammer, Tom Schoch, and many special grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Bob was a Peoria Manual High School graduate and he and Doris recently attended their 75th class reunion. While at Manual Bob was a standout basketball player. Following high school he joined the United States Navy and served during WWII from 1942-1945. He served on the USS Hamlin and following WWII he attended all of the USS Hamlin reunions. He was a Tool Maker at Caterpillar, Inc. for 42 years retiring in 1982. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Peoria, the Caterpillar Retirees Club, the Peoria VFW Post 814, and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Funeral services will be Thursday Oct. 8, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria. Visitation will be two hours prior to the services. Burial will be in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens in Peoria with Military Honors. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Midwest Affiliate or the First United Methodist Church. Please view Bob’s obituary online at www.Davison-FultonWoodlandChapel.com