Robert Willard 'Bob' Gill
October 4, 1931 — May 19, 2014
Robert Willard "Bob" Gill, 83, of Las Cruces, NM passed away peacefully on Monday evening May 19, 2014 at home, with his wife at his side. He was born in Streator IL to Willard Leroy Gill and Ruth Gates Gill, the oldest of seven children. He was raised in Berwyn and Chicago IL Bob graduated Lane Tech High School in 1949, worked as a draftsman at Crane Packing Co. and served honorabl...
Robert Willard "Bob" Gill, 83, of Las Cruces, NM passed away peacefully on Monday evening May 19, 2014 at home, with his wife at his side. He was born in Streator IL to Willard Leroy Gill and Ruth Gates Gill, the oldest of seven children. He was raised in Berwyn and Chicago IL Bob graduated Lane Tech High School in 1949, worked as a draftsman at Crane Packing Co. and served honorably in the U.S. Air Force from January 1951- December 1954. After discharge he earned his BS in mathematics (December 1958) at Blackburn College in Carlinville IL. Throughout those years Bob followed his passion for bowling and was always in a league or two. Bob married his Blackburn sweetheart, Patricia Ann Brown, on June 6, 1956 in River Forest IL. Their first child, Debra Kay, was born in May 1958 with 3 sons, Steve, Jeff and Greg, following every two years. They moved from Carlinville to Las Cruces NM in January 1959 as Bob began his career at WSMR, working as a mathemation/engineer for OMEW and the OTD. He was a member of the SW Crow Club of the Association of Old Crows, serving as Treasurer. He retired Civil Service in 1987 after 28 years of daily "going over the mountain". Bob was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Bob's bowling activities were extensive. He served as President of the NM State Bowling Association 1969-70 and as the LCBA President in 1970-71. He was commended for managing the largest state bowling tournament ever, outside of Albuquerque. In 1990 Bob...
Robert Willard "Bob" Gill, 83, of Las Cruces, NM passed away peacefully on Monday evening May 19, 2014 at home, with his wife at his side. He was born in Streator IL to Willard Leroy Gill and Ruth Gates Gill, the oldest of seven children. He was raised in Berwyn and Chicago IL Bob graduated Lane Tech High School in 1949, worked as a draftsman at Crane Packing Co. and served honorably in the U.S. Air Force from January 1951- December 1954. After discharge he earned his BS in mathematics (December 1958) at Blackburn College in Carlinville IL. Throughout those years Bob followed his passion for bowling and was always in a league or two. Bob married his Blackburn sweetheart, Patricia Ann Brown, on June 6, 1956 in River Forest IL. Their first child, Debra Kay, was born in May 1958 with 3 sons, Steve, Jeff and Greg, following every two years. They moved from Carlinville to Las Cruces NM in January 1959 as Bob began his career at WSMR, working as a mathemation/engineer for OMEW and the OTD. He was a member of the SW Crow Club of the Association of Old Crows, serving as Treasurer. He retired Civil Service in 1987 after 28 years of daily "going over the mountain". Bob was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Bob's bowling activities were extensive. He served as President of the NM State Bowling Association 1969-70 and as the LCBA President in 1970-71. He was commended for managing the largest state bowling tournament ever, outside of Albuquerque. In 1990 Bob received the ABC President's award for outstanding service to a small association. In 1990 he was inducted into the Las Cruces Men's Bowling Association "Hall of Fame". From 1991-2013 Bob bowled in Sr. Olympics. In 1997 he was honored for 28 years of dedicated service and hard work for the bowlers and the LCBA. This included his many years as Executive Director, running tournaments, inspecting lanes, serving as league secretary, writing a bowling column with photographs for the LC Sun-News, teaching youth bowling, coaching Junior & Senior youth bowling leagues and competing on his men's and mixed league bowling teams. Bob's family followed his lead and became bowlers too. Also scouting, camping, boating, swimming, attending many Gill family reunions, and playing card games were family highlights. In 1980 Bob and Pat became Square Dancers with the Blue Bells club and later the Crossfires. Bob served as President and many times as Treasurer. Bob is survived by his wife Pat in Las Cruces, daughter Debra Kay Peyton (Bradley) Chico TX, sons Steven Robert Gill (Michele) Bradenton FL, Gregory L. Gill (Dawn) Colorado Springs CO and 4 grandchildren, Clinton Peyton Bridgeport TX , Elizabeth Peyton Hollis (Sean) Azle TX and Courtney Martin (Derek) Newark DE & Chelsea Gill (Nashville TN) and 4 great grandchildren, Riley Nicole Hollis and Mason, Tucker and Jax Martin and brother William Barclay Gill Los Angeles CA, sister Teresa Smith Marquette MI and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, son Jeffrey Brown Gill, sisters Sally Kessinger, Mary Branding, Suzanne Dirst and brother Scott Gill. Graveside services will be held Friday, May 30, 2014 followed by a 10:30am Celebration of Life Service at St. Paul's United Methodist Church followed by a light lunch served in Fellowship Hall for family and friends. The family requests gifts in honor of Bob be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church or Mesilla Valley Hospice. The family's grateful thanks go to Memorial Medical Cancer Center (Dr. Adler and nurses, especially Karen), Hospice and Memorial Medical Home Health Care. PDF Printable Version
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