William (Bill) Blythe

Grinnell - formerly of Williamsburg

William Stuart Blythe was born October 17, 1927, at home near Williamsburg, Iowa. He was the son of Frederick Robert and Bertha Olivia (Von Schrader) Blythe. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1945 and Iowa State University in 1951 with a B.S. in Agriculture. He made lifelong friends at Iowa State, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, the Air Force ROTC, and a barbershop quartet. After college he served his country in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1953 at the Brize Norton Air Force Base in England during the Korean War. Bill was united in marriage to Judith Marie Meyer on November 28, 1964, in Naperville, Illinois. Bill was a lifelong farmer. He was an excellent caretaker of animals and a dedicated steward of the land, having been among the first to adopt no-till cropping practices to reduce soil erosion and runoff. He was a tireless worker who didn’t rest until the job was done, and he worked and lived with a strong commitment to ethics, responsibility, compassion, and character.

After retiring from farming in 2016, Bill and Judy moved to Grinnell. He enjoyed traveling, singing, spending time with his family, and attending his grandchildren’s activities. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg, serving as an elder and deacon, and he was a member of the Stellapolis Masonic Lodge and Farm Bureau in Williamsburg. Bill died Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell at the age of 98 years.

He is survived by his wife Judy; three children, Bruce (Kate) Blythe of Elmhurst, IL, Verda (Kenneth Kavajecz) Blythe of Madison, WI, and Vanessa (Mike) Doty of Grinnell; five grandchildren, Megan Doty, Will Doty, Derek Doty, Paige Blythe, Ellie Blythe; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Frederick (Betty) Blythe, two sisters Jane (Derek) Barton and Imogene (Ken) Crebbin and a sister-in-law Linda (Art) Pollman.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg. Burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. A memorial fund has been established for the First Presbyterian Church or St. Francis Manor Foundation. Messages and tributes may be directed to www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at St. Francis Manor for their wonderful care, kindness, and community. You will always be remembered.