Robert, BOB, "The Watchman" Gillespie

Bob was born on February 18, 1931 in Springfield. He was the second son and child of eight children. His parents were Charles H. "Bud" and Mary "Helen" Winch Gillespie; some people may remember Bud and Helens Flower Shop.

Dads youth was full of unbelievable adventures, but they were true! His life WAS "the good ole days." Id like to share some of his fun antics. I wont have them in chronological order and will probably have all English majors wondering how I ever passed my classes. Lets go!

Dad would tell David and me about how hed get around Springfield in the winter (not todays global warming winters) with snow and ice. When a bus stopped to pick up the riders, Dad and his buddies would grab hold of the back bumper and be pulled across town from one end to the other. They just let go when they wanted off.

This Dad of ours was an animal lover all his life. He brought home a variety of critters. Dogs were always good, but ordinary. He found a couple of baby skunks; there was a raccoon; on a camping trip we encountered a very fat snake only to find she had vacated the cardboard box and left all her babies, a couple came home with us; cant forget about his assortment of freshwater fish; and years later the aquarium was turned into a home for his huge tarantula.

Dad was really into comic books - thats how he learned to read, he said. From what he shared with me, the comic books would have ads for exotic animals. He saved his money so that he could get a monkey. He and his Dad drove someplace in Illinois to get this monkey, brought it home and kept it in the bathroom. It didnt take Grandma Gillespie long to hand out an ultimatum after she went into the bathroom and found it entirely TPd. Either that monkey went, or she did!

Besides delivering flowers for Bud and Helens Flower Shop, Dad had a few other jobs. As a boy he was a Page for the House of Representatives, sometimes for Paul Powell. There is a picture of Dad in his Bellhop uniform from when he worked at the Leland Hotel. Dad also told me he was a Social Adjuster, and I didnt know what that meant…a Bouncer!

So maybe these jobs arent that interesting! Can any of you say your Dad was a sword swallower? Dad traveled with a carnival one summer. He watched a man swallow swords and the man asked Dad if he would like to do it. Being Bob, he said sure, and wanted to know where the button was that made sword retract. There wasnt a button! The man measured Dads chest length and thought Dad could swallow 13"-15". The tricky part was not to gag, and it took him about three days to perfect that.

If that isnt being a risk-taker, how about being buried alive? It happened in White City, IL, a village in Macoupin County, as a stunt promotion for a carnival. He was in a box and there was an air pipe that went out of the box and above the dirt. He said people would yell down at him, and someone was always on site. His mom came to watch, too.

Something Dad was proud of during his later teen years was boxing. He was an amateur boxer, belonging to Police Palace Boxing Club and boxed for Fire Station #1. Dads record was pretty good; 106 fights and winning 100 (and he said, "that was in the ring"). He boxed Golden Gloves and won three times.

You might have guessed that Dad and schooling werent always on the same track. He attended a lot of the schools, Catholic and public, in Springfield. Dad did earn his GED and graduated from Cathedral Boys High School.

In 1950, Dad joined the Army National Guard. Soon after all the Guardsmen were activated, and he was part of the Korean Conflict. He completed his basic training, was in California, and then stationed in Japan. Dad worked with tanks. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal.

I forgot to mention that our Dad was a dance instructor for Arthur Murray Dance Studio here in Springfield. Thats really important because that is how he met our mom, Jean. Mom knew how to dance, but her girlfriend did not. The girlfriend didnt want to take lessons by herself, and the rest is history. Robert E. Gillespie married N. Jean Nation from Buffalo, IL on July 5, 1952 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. (On a side note, Dad was stationed in San Bernardino, CA at the time. He hitchhiked home for his wedding, and it took him 41 hours to reach his front door.) They were married for 44 years. Mom passed away from cancer on July 6, 1996.

After Dads time with the National Guard, he had a variety of jobs in different sales areas. In 1960-61, Dad took a job as a bartender in Peoria, and the family made the move to Sunnyland. When the Combo Club closed, Dad started working construction, until he had an on-site back injury.

In the later 1960s, Dad took a position as a route man for Belmont Music, servicing jukeboxes, pinball machines, and pool tables. He loved tinkering with the machines and found a strong interest. In 1982, Dad went into business for himself, starting B and D Amusement.

At age 61-2, Dad began another job working for Risinger Brothers Transfer at United Facilities in East Peoria. He spotted semi-trailers (putting in and taking out the trailers). He retired from United Facilities when he reached age 71.

Fast forward nine years and Dad bought himself a laptop computer. By now you can tell he isnt a traditionalist. Dad was lonely, wanted friendship and company. Why not try online dating? At 80 years old Dad met Phyllis Shawgo. They were smitten! In a matter of weeks Phyllis and Dad were married, on August 12, 2011.

Dad and Phyllis would go garage-saling; thats s-a-l-e with an 'ing.' Dad got very interested in finding watches for a $1.00 or less. He found his newest hobby, repairing hundreds and thousands of watches. What happens after that kind of surplus takes over the house? Dad did not go anywhere without a minimum of two soft-sided, insulated lunchboxes/6 pack coolers stuffed full of a variety of timepieces. Thus, he became known as THE WATCHMAN around Springfield. Dave Bakke, from the State Journal-Register, did a human-interest article on Dad titled "Lincolns Gillespie Gives the Gift of Time." It can still be Googled and read online.

Bob is survived by his wife, Phyllis J. Shawgo Gillespie of Lincoln; one daughter, Jackie (John) Hartman of Springfield; son, David (Gloria) Gillespie of Creve Coeur, IL; six grandchildren, Zac (Maria) Hartman of Phoenix, AZ, Tate (Danielle) Hartman of Springfield, Kirk (Trenay) Gillespie of Gulfport, MS, Jeremy (Gabby) Gillespie of Washington, IL, Maggie Hinkle of Creve Coeur, IL, and Adam (Laura) Gillespie of East Peoria, IL; nine great-grandchildren, Trinity and Kaden Gillespie, Tanner, Jet and Beckam Gillespie, Devin and Brynn Hinkle, and Kennedy and Rylee Gillespie; one last sibling, James "Jimmy" (Mona) Gillespie of Chesterfield, MO; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bob was also preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Nancy J. Gillespie-Murphy, Carolyn Eakers and Marilyn Dallas; three brothers, Charles "Chuck," John "Jack," and George Gillespie.

Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019 at Butler Funeral HomeSpringfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. The visitation will begin with a prayer service.

Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 245 N. Amos Avenue, Springfield with Rev. Robert Jallas, celebrant.

Private entombment will be held on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Springfield Supportive Living Activities Department, 2034 E. Clear Lake Ave., Springfield, IL 62703 or the Special Olympics of Illinois Area 17, 900 Christopher Lane, Suite 7, Springfield, IL 62712.