Boyd R Whitt

Boyd R Whitt, 99, of Galesburg, passed away Dec. 29, 2014 at Martin Health Care, Westminster Village, Bloomington, Illinois.

Boyd was born on Sept 17, 1915 in Gallatin, Missouri, the son of Harley and Clara (Place) Whitt. He married Maxine Petersen in Aurora, Illinois. She preceded him in death. They were married 60 years. Eight half brothers and sisters preceded him in death, one survives and two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.

He is survived by one son, Boyd R. Whitt Jr. (Shannon) of Huntley, Illinois and one daughter, Diane L. White (Joseph) of Bloomington, Illinois. Boyd had five granddaughters, Amy Hansen/Badjie of Madison, Wisconsin, Sara (Scott) Brown of Singapore, Rev. Shelly (Blake) Wood of Carmel, Indiana, Joan (Chris) Gjesfjeld of Bloomington, Illinois, and Rachel (Matt) Stalter of Corvallis, Oregon. He also had 13 great- grandchildren.

Boyd attended a one room school house in Gallatin, walking three miles to and from school. He was pulled out of school at a young age to help his father work their farm. In his teens he left Gallatin and headed for Aurora and got a job building and repairing bridges for the CB & Q railroad. In 1940, Boyd started as a fireman on steam engines and was promoted to engineer in 1952. Just before his retirement in 1977, he narrowly escaped death when his passenger run collided head-on with a derailed Burlington Northern freight at a bridge crossing. His rapid response saved many lives. He loved working for the railroad and only lamented that his career ended as it did. He was forever grateful for the “good life” that working on the railroad provided for his family.

He and his wife Maxine spent many winters in Florida and traveling the U.S. and Europe. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Galesburg for many years and a member of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and life long member of Little John Conservation Club in Victoria, Illinois.

Boyd was a caring and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, genuinely interested in their lives and able to stay young at heart, playing checkers with his great-grandson on his last birthday. He was a phenomenal gardener and could repair anything.

Boyd loved fishing and being in nature, knowing the name of every tree and bird. He was a wonderful story teller and a faithful friend. Even though he was profoundly deaf for the last 15 years of his life, he never met a stranger and was a friend to all. He will be missed.

A celebration of Boydʼs life will be 11 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2015 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. His granddaughter, Rev. Shelly White Wood will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Friday at the chapel. Burial will be at East Linwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Westminster Village Foundation, 2025 East Lincoln St., Bloomington, IL 61701 in memory of Boyd R. Whitt or Advocate Hospice, 303 N. Hershey Rd. C, Bloomington, IL 61704. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.