Wilbur S. Roosevelt, 88, formerly of Albion
Wilbur S. Roosevelt, 88, of Forsyth, Ill. passed away on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Hickory Point Christian Village.
Wilbur was born on Oct. 16 1931 in Albion, Ill., the son of Gilferd and Mary (Stanley) Roosevelt. He married Betty H. Ostendorf on Apr. 3 1953. She preceded him in death on Feb. 21 1989. Wilbur served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a licensed barber for 63 years and was the owner of J&R Barber Shop.
Wilbur was a member of Korean War Veterans Association-Parlier Chapter, where he served as chaplain for 20 years. He was instrumental in the construction of the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. He enjoyed gardening and his fruit orchard which he shared the produce with others. Wilbur had a natural care and concern for others and was very family oriented.
Wilbur is survived by his daughters Ava Schwartz and her husband, Robert of Rice Lake, Wis. and Rita Roosevelt and her spouse, Sheri Galloway of Indianapolis, Ind.; sister Mary Fenton of Carlinville, Ill.; grandchildren R. Grant Schwartz and his wife, Jacqueline of Plover, Wis. and Meghan Schwartz and her husband, Michael Poole of Louisville, N.C.; longtime special friend Darlene Foster of Decatur, Ill. and her family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brother George Roosevelt and his sister Wanda Ackerman.
A service to honor and celebrate Wilbur’s life was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26 at Forsyth United Methodist Church. The family received friends for a time of visitation prior to the service. Wilbur will be laid to rest in Boiling Springs Cemetery in Decatur, Ill. Dawson & Wikoff North Chapel assisted the family with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be directed to Korean War Veterans Association- Parlier Chapter or Forsyth United Methodist Church.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.
