Mr. Richard W. Holdsworth of Galesburg, IL, 92, passed away peacefully at home on December 30.
Richard was born in Greene Township, Mercer County, IL on August 20, 1932 to Wilbur and Edith Verlea (Williams) Holdsworth. The eldest of six children and the only son, Richard married Janet Krueger on March 14, 1953 in Fort Smith, AR. They were happily married for 67 years.
He spent his youth mostly fishing for catfish in the Edwards River. Richard graduated from AlWood High School, class of 1950, where he excelled in football and was the homecoming king. Following high school he worked briefly in the Alpha coal mine before serving honorably in the Army during the Korean War. He was an electrician for the remainder of his career, working for Alpha Electric & Hardware, Herman Nelson, and John Deere Plow & Planter Works, and retired in 1990.
Richard bought 45 acres of timber and brush on Pope Creek north of Rio, tried to farm it, and eventually turned it into Corn Cob Greens Par 3 Golf Course. The house on this property was built using materials Richard had gathered over the years from several barns and even an old church he had dismantled. After many years, he sold the golf course and moved to Indiana to be closer to some of his grandchildren. He and Janet moved back to Galesburg for their retirement years. Richard stayed busy with his passion for gardening and tinkering. His love of gardening began with his grandmother, carried through to his father, and was passed on to the generations that followed.
Richard was a self-taught fiddle player who could play a tune by looking at the song title. He even played for a while with the Pleasant Valley Boys bluegrass band, and happily played requests at family gatherings for many years.
Survivors include two daughters, Kathy Marsala of Galesburg, IL and Carrie Holdsworth of Jasper, IN; one son, Clint (Beverly) of Napa, CA; five grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; and five sisters, Patsy (Jim) Broadus of New Windsor, IL, Linda Weeks of New Boston, IL, Judi Gould and Becki Boden of Aledo, IL, and Joella Holdsworth of Alpha, IL. His wife and parents preceded him in death.
Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at a later date. Online condolences can be made at www.h-p-w.com
Memorials may be made to the Alpha American Legion or the Galesburg First United Methodist Church.
