1922
Richard
2016
Richard F Bailey
May 30, 1922 — February 22, 2016
Richard "Dick" F. Bailey, 93, of Moline, IL, died Monday, February 22, 2016, at Park Vista Retirement Living, East Moline, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 25, 2016, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens, where military honors will be presented by the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 299. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, Moline American Legion Post 246 baseball team, or to the Moline Viking Club Scholarship Fund.
Dick was born on May 30, 1922, in Moline, IL, the son of Richard and Hannah Dasso Bailey. His father died in 1926, and his mother married Oscar Newberg, who became a devoted stepfather to Dick and his sisters. In 1940, Dick graduated from Moline High School and entered an apprenticeship at John Deere Planter Works as a tool and die maker. He declined a WWII active service deferment from John Deere and in 1943, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and trained as a tail gunner in the B24 Liberator bomber. He flew 35 missions over Germany, through heavy enemy fire which damaged their plane but did not harm the crew.
He was honorably discharged in October of 1945 at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Seventy years later, in a ceremony at Rock Island Arsenal, he was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross medal by the Commanding General of the First Army.
Dick returned to John Deere Planter Works after his wartime service and spent his entire career at Deere Planter (Plow Planter) Works, where he was active in the International Association of Machinists Union, serving on its contract negotiating committee. He retired in October of 1982, accumulating 42 years of service to John Deere.
He married Betty "Jean" Knable on March 21, 1948, in Moline, IL, and she preceded him in death in November of 1989.
Dick was a lifetime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a long time member of the Moline Viking Club. He was a passionate baseball fan, having played a great deal in his younger years and having coached American Legion baseball teams and his children's school teams. He also enjoyed vacationing and fishing in the Hayward Wisconsin Lakes area and watching old movies.
Survivors include his daughter, Pamela (Jane Shanks) Bailey, Moline, IL; sons, Tom (Carol) Bailey, East Moline, IL, and Gary Bailey, Darien, IL; 3 grandchildren, Kristen (Jerry Kinney) Bailey, Rock Island, IL, Greg Bailey, College Station, TX, and Philip (Courtney) Bailey, East Moline, IL; great grandchildren, Cannden Spicer Bailey, London Bailey, Kingston Bailey, Lelan Bailey, Emersyn Bailey, and Annistyn Bailey, East Moline, Haley Kinney, Rock Island, IL; sister, Betty Claeys, Peoria, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and sister, Marian Foss.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 25, 2016, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens, where military honors will be presented by the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 299. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, Moline American Legion Post 246 baseball team, or to the Moline Viking Club Scholarship Fund.
Dick was born on May 30, 1922, in Moline, IL, the son of Richard and Hannah Dasso Bailey. His father died in 1926, and his mother married Oscar Newberg, who became a devoted stepfather to Dick and his sisters. In 1940, Dick graduated from Moline High School and entered an apprenticeship at John Deere Planter Works as a tool and die maker. He declined a WWII active service deferment from John Deere and in 1943, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and trained as a tail gunner in the B24 Liberator bomber. He flew 35 missions over Germany, through heavy enemy fire which damaged their plane but did not harm the crew.
He was honorably discharged in October of 1945 at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Seventy years later, in a ceremony at Rock Island Arsenal, he was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross medal by the Commanding General of the First Army.
Dick returned to John Deere Planter Works after his wartime service and spent his entire career at Deere Planter (Plow Planter) Works, where he was active in the International Association of Machinists Union, serving on its contract negotiating committee. He retired in October of 1982, accumulating 42 years of service to John Deere.
He married Betty "Jean" Knable on March 21, 1948, in Moline, IL, and she preceded him in death in November of 1989.
Dick was a lifetime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a long time member of the Moline Viking Club. He was a passionate baseball fan, having played a great deal in his younger years and having coached American Legion baseball teams and his children's school teams. He also enjoyed vacationing and fishing in the Hayward Wisconsin Lakes area and watching old movies.
Survivors include his daughter, Pamela (Jane Shanks) Bailey, Moline, IL; sons, Tom (Carol) Bailey, East Moline, IL, and Gary Bailey, Darien, IL; 3 grandchildren, Kristen (Jerry Kinney) Bailey, Rock Island, IL, Greg Bailey, College Station, TX, and Philip (Courtney) Bailey, East Moline, IL; great grandchildren, Cannden Spicer Bailey, London Bailey, Kingston Bailey, Lelan Bailey, Emersyn Bailey, and Annistyn Bailey, East Moline, Haley Kinney, Rock Island, IL; sister, Betty Claeys, Peoria, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and sister, Marian Foss.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.
Visitation Details
Wednesday, February 24th, 2016, 3:00pm - 7:00pm, Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory
Service Details
Thursday, February 25th, 2016, 10:00am, Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory
Interment Details
Greenview Memorial Gardens
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