Obituary for Robert Lee Sayre
Robert Lee Sayre, 90, of Peoria died Friday, January 23,2009 at
St. Francis Medical Center.
Born November 20, 1918 in Beardstown, Illinois to Henry Franklin and Florence
Vincent Sayre, he married Margaret M. Peters on May 31, 1941, in Westmont, Illinois.
She survives.
Also surviving are three children: Patricia Ann (and Cooper) Graham of
. Baltimore, Maryland; Michael Lee Sayre of Fairlawn, Ohio; and Kathryn Eileen (and
Gale) Bridgewater of Peoria, Illinois; one sister, Janice Davis of Seattle, Washington;
nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three
brothers.
After graduation from Beardstown High School education in 1936, he attended
Illinois Wesleyan University, where he studied electrical engineering. In 1940, he
became a lineman and technician at Illinois Bell Telephone Co. where he worked until
the outbreak of W orId War II,
During the war, he served in the United States Army as a Lieutenant in the Signal
Corps, and was with the Twenty-Seventh Infantry Division as it saw action in Saipan and
Okinawa in the Pacific. He was also with the division in Japan during the post-war
occupation.
After the war, he returned to Peoria with his family and continued working at
Illinois Bell, and ultimately became their troubleshooter on the highly complex telephone
computer networks installed in various industries, corporate headquarters and business
centers in the Central Illinois area. After 42 years of service, he retired in 1982, and
became active in the Illinois Bell Pioneers retirement group.
He was a 67-year member of First United Methodist Church in Peoria, and was
highly active in church activities. He participated in several evangelical and outreach
programs. He also participated in Cursillo and Walk to Emmaus, taught Sunday School
Junior High and was President of Triple M. He was also active in the congregation at
University United Methodist Church.
Among his many other activities, he was a dedicated gardener, and many of his
mends and relatives have enjoyed his fruits and flowers.
The memorial service will be held at 11 :00 a.m. Friday, January 30, at the First
United Methodist Church in Peoria. The Reverend Dr. Timothy L. Bias will officiate.
Visitations will be at the church from 4 to 7 pm., Thursday, and for one hour preceding
the service.
Memorials may be made to his church, or to Illinois Wesleyan University. The Cremation
Society of Mid-Illinois Co. is assisting the family with arrangements. On-line
condolences may be made at csmico.com
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St. Francis Medical Center.
Born November 20, 1918 in Beardstown, Illinois to Henry Franklin and Florence
Vincent Sayre, he married Margaret M. Peters on May 31, 1941, in Westmont, Illinois.
She survives.
Also surviving are three children: Patricia Ann (and Cooper) Graham of
. Baltimore, Maryland; Michael Lee Sayre of Fairlawn, Ohio; and Kathryn Eileen (and
Gale) Bridgewater of Peoria, Illinois; one sister, Janice Davis of Seattle, Washington;
nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three
brothers.
After graduation from Beardstown High School education in 1936, he attended
Illinois Wesleyan University, where he studied electrical engineering. In 1940, he
became a lineman and technician at Illinois Bell Telephone Co. where he worked until
the outbreak of W orId War II,
During the war, he served in the United States Army as a Lieutenant in the Signal
Corps, and was with the Twenty-Seventh Infantry Division as it saw action in Saipan and
Okinawa in the Pacific. He was also with the division in Japan during the post-war
occupation.
After the war, he returned to Peoria with his family and continued working at
Illinois Bell, and ultimately became their troubleshooter on the highly complex telephone
computer networks installed in various industries, corporate headquarters and business
centers in the Central Illinois area. After 42 years of service, he retired in 1982, and
became active in the Illinois Bell Pioneers retirement group.
He was a 67-year member of First United Methodist Church in Peoria, and was
highly active in church activities. He participated in several evangelical and outreach
programs. He also participated in Cursillo and Walk to Emmaus, taught Sunday School
Junior High and was President of Triple M. He was also active in the congregation at
University United Methodist Church.
Among his many other activities, he was a dedicated gardener, and many of his
mends and relatives have enjoyed his fruits and flowers.
The memorial service will be held at 11 :00 a.m. Friday, January 30, at the First
United Methodist Church in Peoria. The Reverend Dr. Timothy L. Bias will officiate.
Visitations will be at the church from 4 to 7 pm., Thursday, and for one hour preceding
the service.
Memorials may be made to his church, or to Illinois Wesleyan University. The Cremation
Society of Mid-Illinois Co. is assisting the family with arrangements. On-line
condolences may be made at csmico.com
To plant a tree in memory of Robert Lee Sayre, visit the Tribute Store.
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