John Newby

JOHN ROBERT “BOB” NEWBY, 83, of Humboldt, IL passed away at 7:00 A.M. on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at his residence in rural Humboldt, IL.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, May 18, 2009 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main, in Arcola, IL. Rev. Joe Diener officiated. Burial was in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Cooks Mills, IL. Visitation was from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at the funeral home.

Bob was born on December 24, 1925 in Coles County, Illinois. He was a son of John Ray and Stella Irene (Hill) Newby. He married Elizabeth B. “Betty” Furry on August 3, 1947 in Charleston, IL. She passed away on January 29, 2003.

He is survived by six children, Kenneth Newby and his wife Carol of Humboldt, IL, Kathie Whitley and her husband Michael of Forsyth, IL, Rex Newby and his wife Martha of Huntington, West Virginia, John Newby of Boulder, CO, David Newby and his wife Sarah of Mattoon, IL and Becky Bleibaum and her husband Kevin of Santa Rosa, CA; sixteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and one brother James Edward Newby and his wife Eloise of Charleston, IL

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one sister, Helen Maxine Newby and two grandchildren, Rachel Alexa Newby and Ross David Newby.

Bob was a 1944 graduate of the Humboldt High School. He was an Army Veteran of WWII. He was a member of the Walnut Grove Christian Church and the Mattoon Campers Club.

He farmed in Coles County his entire life and was a Federal Meat Inspector for 15 years.

Bob enjoyed woodworking, traveling and camping. Before Betty passed away, they would spend winters in Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials were made to the Walnut Grove Christian Church.