Richard Gabbard

1966 - 2026

Atwood - Richard Thomas Gabbard, 59, of Atwood passed away at 3:47 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

A celebration-of-life service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Southern Baptist Church, Arthur. The Rev. Doug Davis will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 10 to 11 a.m., at the church. Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Richard was born on Nov. 30, 1966, in Tuscola. He was a son of Robert Wayne Gabbard and Darlene Lenore (Gough) Phillips.

He is survived by five children, Paige Partenheimer and husband Blaze of Newman, Cortnee Hack of Hammond, Luke Gabbard and wife Sierra of Atwood, Nancy Helmuth and husband Derrick of Atwood and Emma Hack of Atwood; his mother, Darlene Phillips of Atwood; father, Robert Gabbard of Camargo; 12 grandchildren, Wrigley, Rorey, Colin, Addison, Briggs, Kyle, Elijah, Rhett, Wynette, Gene, Sawyer and Fallon; and four siblings, Mike Gabbard of Arthur, Lisa Funk and husband Rob of Arthur, Shawn Gabbard of Atwood and Tyler Gabbard and wife Amber of Mattoon.

He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Gary Phillips; stepmother, Verleta Gabbard; one brother, Bill Gabbard; maternal grandparents, Bill and Margarett Gough; paternal grandparents, Ben and Emogene Gabbard; niece, Darcy Cain; nephew, Eric Gabbard; an aunt, Deanna Kestner; uncles, Bill Gabbard, Tom Gabbard, Dick Gabbard and Bill Gough; and several cousins.

Richard was a member of the Iron Workers Local Union 380, a trade he worked in for 31 years. This position was a family tradition, as it was shared by his father, grandfather and son Luke.

Outside of work, Richard cherished time spent with his family and friends. Weekends were often filled with gatherings, where they enjoyed playing backyard games and throwing washers. He had a passion for outdoor activities, which included fishing, rabbit hunting and canoeing along the Embarrass River and Kaskaskia River from Camargo to Greenup.

Richard was known as an old soul with a deep appreciation for music. He possessed a wealth of random facts, much of which he gained from watching "Jeopardy" and enjoying classic movies like "The Andy Griffith Show." He also enjoyed traveling to Indianapolis to watch NHRA, Top Fuel Drag Racing and watching flat-track motorcycling in Springfield.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice of the Illinois Conservation Foundation or Illinois Department of Natural Resources.