Gary Lee Whipple, 86, of Galesburg, passed away peacefully with family at his side on Friday, July 22, 2022, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg.
Gary was born September 22, 1935, in Blackwell, OK, the son of Roy Harrison Whipple and Opal Grace (Wilson) Whipple. He married Gayle Elline Crownover on July 30, 1955, in Miami, OK.
Gary is survived by two sons, Brett (Jackie) Whipple and Justin Whipple, both of Galesburg, one daughter, Donna (Ed) Coulter of Arvada, CO, nine grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. Along with his parents, Gary was preceded in death by his wife Gayle, one son, Harlan, two daughters, Sherry Whipple and Laurie Larkin, along with his brothers, Donald and Harlan Whipple, and his sisters, Evelyn Lusk, Dorothy Woodruff-Morris, and Lucille Butler.
He enjoyed everything life had to offer; hunting, fishing camping, golf, snow skiing, enduro motorcycle racing, dune buggies, stained glass design, and much more! But most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family. Gary worked as a tool and diemaker most of his life.
He is surely in heaven playing dominoes with family, losing and crying about it.
Cremation will be accorded. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022, at East Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg. A celebration of life will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Big Catz BBQ, Knoxville. Memorials may be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation or a charity of the donor’s choosing. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
