Raymond R. Gillespie
GILLESPIE, GUYE, HAMMOND, DUNHAM
Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 3/28/2006 at 20:02:26
Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
June 8, 1960RAYMOND R. GILLESPIE Dies In Arizona
Heart Condition Fatal to Madison County's State SenatorState Senator Raymond R. Gillespie of near Pitzer died Friday, June 3, at Tucson, Ariz., where he had gone for his health. He had been ill with a heart condition for several months. He was 69 years of age.
Senator Gillespie was serving his second term, representing the Adair-Madison county senatorial district, and was a candidate for re-nomination at the Democratic primary He was unopposed on the Democratic ballot.
He was born at Chariton on July 23, 1890, a son of Robert and Elvia Guye Gillespie. His mother was a member of the Guye family which was among the very first pioneer groups settling in this county.Practically all his life had been lived in Madison County.
He was a graduate of Dexter high school, and Iowa State University in Ames. He served in the United States armed forces in World War I, and in 1917 received a presidential citation for his efforts in food production during the war.
He engaged in farming all his life, but was also vice-president of the Farmers and Merchants State bank in Winterset. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, the Masonic lodge, Consistory, American Legion, and the American Angus association.
Senator Gillespie is survived by his wife; two sons, Cecil Gillespie of Winterset and Jewett Dunham, who is a professor zoology and entomology at Iowa State University. He also leaves two grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Roy Hammond of Dexter.
Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Pitzer United Presbyterian church, conducted by the Rev. Albert Bullock. Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.
---------------------Dexter Library Obituary Collection
Dexter, IowaDeath Took Senator Gillespie in Tucson
Had Been Ill for Several Months
State Senator Raymond R. Gillespie widely known banker, farmer, breeder of livestock and landowner died of a heart ailment in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, June 3. He had been ill for several months and was a patient in the Dexter Clinic hospital during the past winter, having flown to Tucson only about a month ago for recuperation. His wife was with him in Tucson.
Funeral services commemorating the brilliant life of Senator Gillespie, 69, were held at the United Presbyterian church at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7. The Rev. Albert C. Bullock, pastor of the church, officiated at the service. Hosts of friends, relatives, and co-workers from over the state were in attendance. Among the notables was the Honorable Herschel C. Loveless, governor of Iowa.
Mrs. Paul Hochstetler was pianist for the service, accompanying Claire F. Leeper, vocalist.
Casketbearers were Claude Beaman, Orla DeVault, Ross Moore, Fred Morford, Earl Nelson, and George Pitcock. Honorary casketbearers were Keith Chapler, Jim Henry, Neil Kelley, George Paul, Laurence Putney, and Harry Storey. The interment was in the Winterset cemetery, a Masonic graveside service being conducted.
Obituary
State senator Robert Raymond Gillespie, grandson of George W. Guye, one of Madison county’s 1846 pioneer settlers, passed away June 3, at Tucson, Arizona after a six months illness, at the age of 69.
Raymond was born near Chariton, July 23, 1890, the son of Robert and Elvia Guye Gillespie.
At the early age of 8 months he moved with his parents from Chariton to the farm in Jackson township, Madison county, where he resided until his death.
He received his education in a rural school of Madison county, attending high school in Dexter, and graduating from Iowa State University at Ames.
His father passed away, so at the early age of nine the farming operation was carried on by him and an older brother. He loved the farm and returned to it after serving as a veteran in World War I, at which time he received a presidential citation in 1917 for his efforts in food production. From that time on he was actively engaged in farming and livestock breeding.
He was serving his second term as senator from the 16th senatorial district—Madison and Adair counties, and was an unopposed candidate on the Democratic ticket for re-nomination at the June primaries.
He was a member and a trustee of the United Presbyterian church, Masonic lodge, Consistory, American Legion and American Angus Association. He was vice-president of the Farmers Merchants State Bank, and in 1932 he was elected to “Who’s Who.”
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, two brothers, Cecil and Gaylord, and sister, Lurana. Survivors include his wife Edith, one sister, Mrs. Roy Hammond of Dexter; and two sons, Cecil Gillespie of Winterset and Jewett Dunham of Ames, and two grandchildren, Paula and Marilyn Dunham.
Gravestone Photo
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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