OTTAWA, ILL. – Billy Carr, 88, of Ottawa, Ill., went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at OSF St. Paul, Medical Center in Mendota.
Billy was born on Dec. 3, 1930, in Warsaw to William and Ethel Heagy Carr. He grew up on their family farm during the Great Depression. In 1949, after graduating from Warsaw High School, Billy joined the US Navy and served during the Korean War until 1953. After his stint, he entered the Indiana Institute of Technology, on the G.I Bill, and received a four-year degree in electrical engineering in three years.
On April 1, 1955, Billy married Rose Ellen Cremeens in Leesburg. They lived in Fort Wayne during his college years, with two young daughters. Rose worked in a ketchup factory and Billy did odd jobs such as working in a bakery and finding night crawlers on the golf course at night when it rained. In 1957, Billy received a job at Libbey-Owens Ford in Ottawa and worked there until his retirement in 1995. Billy and Rose loved to run and bike. They ran several Chicago Marathons and Billy qualified for the Boston Marathon. They did several cross-country bicycling trips through Missouri and Wisconsin. Billy loved to spend time outdoors working around the house in his later years.
Billy is survived by his wife, Rose; four children, Diane (Brian) Pouk, of Ottawa, Ill.; Gary Carr, of Gilbert, Ariz.; Steve (Diane) Carr, of Ottawa, Ill.; and Missy Coppotelli, of Sterling; and a brother Ted (Pat) Carr, of Warsaw. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Pamela Kuleck; a grandson, Brendon Kuleck; and two sisters, Peggy Rapsavage and Mary Jane Study.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, Ill. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, Ill., with the Rev. John Walker, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, where full military rites will be accorded, by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Coppotelli, Josh Huddleston, Justin Jones, Gary Carr, Steve Carr and Logan Carr.
*****
Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433
