Gary A. Kilby

Gary A. Kilby, 86, of Ladson, SC, formerly of Kewanee, passed away Friday, January 24, 2025, in Summerville, SC. Gary was born March 30, 1938, in Kewanee, the son of Cecil and Alta (Campbell) Kilby. Gary graduated from Wethersfield High School and earned a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University.
The farm he grew up on in rural Kewanee began as a homestead in the 1840's, of which his great-grandmother and great-grandfather inherited from the Lyle family. His great grandfather Wiley Kilby (Elizabeth Lyle, wife) was the first born of 14 children, via his parents, Cicero Kilby and Zillah Weaver.
Gary came from a long line of farmers going back to at least colonial America, with his sixth great-grandfather (John Kilby of Culpeper) who was granted 400 acres of land in Virginia from King George II of England to farm tobacco in the mid-1700s, approximately 30 years before the American Revolution. Gary was a green thumb that could grow anything and loved sharing his abundant crops from his backyard with neighbors, as late as last year with his 2024 crop.
As a youth he was an amazingly fast sprinter at Wethersfield High School in Kewanee with many accomplishments at the local and regional level in Illinois. He raised Hampshire pigs with his brother Monte. They sold them all over Illinois, garnering regional fame while still in high school.
He was a phenomenal bowler who considered going pro at one time, even rolling some perfect 300 games. His last known perfect game was in 2006 at the age of 68, 10 days after his mother Alta passed at 100 Years of age. He dedicated that perfect game to her legacy. Gary rolled his last game four weeks ago.
As a professional he was a wrestling coach at Springfield Lanphier high school. After that he was a successful life insurance salesman as well as being an Aflac salesman from 1978 until his passing. After that he was a member of several corporations that were pioneers in the 1980s in the early stages of fiber optic telecommunications cable deployment, a precursor to the internet. He won numerous awards as a top performer in all of these categories.
At the age of 59, he placed 3rd in the entire Southeastern United States Bodybuilding Championship for the over 50 years of age division.
His Christian faith and belief in Jesus was everlasting and uncompromised through his last moment on Earth, and he looked forward to the afterlife when he could again see his parents, his sister and brother and loved ones that passed before him.
He began to slow down in his last year only, but his steadfast faith, positivity, and passion for life never faded. He was diagnosed with a terminal illness on January 18th, 2025, and was blessed 6 days later when the Lord claimed him.
Although not a perfect dad, he loved his three boys through his last day on earth. He was revered by many including his youngest son's friends who thought he was the coolest dude they ever knew. His quiet legacy will never be forgotten.
Gary is survived by three sons, Jon, Scott (Julie, wife), and Todd (Jill, wife); five grandsons; three great grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Clarabelle Jean Tatum; two brothers, Monte Kilby, and Larry Kilby; sister-in-law, Becky Kilby; daughter, Kara Sue Kilby.
Visitation will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Golnick-Schueneman Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 12:00 pm, Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the funeral home. Pastor Andrew Christman will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Please leave an online condolence for Gary's family at www.golnickschuenemanfh.com
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