Bud Stiltz

WASHINGTON - Eldon "Bud" L. Stiltz, 80, of Washington passed away at 10:05 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at Morton Apostolic Restmor in Morton, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on Oct. 19, 1928, in Greenfield, Ill., to Floyd L. and Edith M. (Crouch) Stiltz.

He married Leona Humphress in Pleasant Plains, Ill., on July 23, 1950. She survives.

Other survivors are three daughters, Deborah McMahon of Tampa, Fla., Donna (Tom) Chambers of Groveland, Ill., and Diane (Donald) Bannan, also of Groveland, Ill.; one brother, William (Alicia) Stiltz of Petersburg, Ill.; two sisters, Bernice (Clyde) Clark of Springfield, Ill., and Dolores Barber of Archer, Fla.; five grandchildren, Christopher McMahon, Timothy Pierantoni, Ashley Bannan, Tom Chambers and Cindy (Matt) Warner; and two great grandchildren, Quenton Chambers and Maggie Warner.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Richard; one sister, Sharon Maddox; two infant sisters; and his parents.

A 1946 graduate of Tallula High School, he attended an electricians' trade school in Chicago.

He served with the Air National Guard as a staff sergeant from 1947 to 1955.

Bud worked at Caterpillar for 37 years, retiring in 1983. He was a supervisor in plant engineering and was instrumental in opening the Mapleton Foundry in the late 1960s.

He was a member of Washington Christian Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and Bible school teacher, greeter, a member of the Prime Timers group, and volunteered his time for many electrical projects at the church.

He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels through Maple Lawn Homes in Eureka.

After retirement, he and his wife were escorts for Peoria Charter Coach for a couple of years.

Bud was a man of great faith, always willing to help anyone in need, and he had a great love for children.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff and ministry at the Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton for their wonderful, loving care provided not only to Bud, but to his family as well.

Services to celebrate the life of Bud Stiltz will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Washington Christian Church in Washington. Pastor Jeff Browning, his pastor, and Pastor Duane Surels, a friend of the family, will officiate.

Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memory Gardens in rural Morton. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Deiters Funeral Home in Washington. Additional visitation will be held one hour prior to the services, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.

Memorials may be made to the Apostolic Christian Restmor at 1500 Parkside in Morton, IL or Washington Christian Church preschool program.

Bud's memorial Web site is available at www.deitersfuneralhome.com, where condolences may also be sent to the family.