1928
Richard
2014
Richard P Withenbury
April 16, 1928 — November 28, 2014
Richard P. Withenbury, died Friday, November 28, 2014 at Genesis East, Davenport. He had resided at Thomas Place Apartments in Bettendorf.
A graveside service will be 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the National Cemetery on the Rock Island Arsenal. Those wishing to attend should meet at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. 6601 38 Avenue, Moline, by 1:45 p.m.
Richard was born on April 16, 1928 at the Hinsdale Hospital and Sanitarium in Hinsdale, IL. He was the only child of Philip Sheridan Withenbury and Ruth Olive Larson Withenbury. They resided in Downers Grove, IL until he was four years old.
Richard went through the Moline schools and graduated from high school in 1946. He went to the University of Illinois and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor- of science degree in civil engineering, with a major in structural engineering, and a minor in surveying.
Upon graduation, he was employed as an engineer and surveyor by the Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company in Davenport, IA.
On August 12, 1950, he married Carol Jean Freeburg, in the First Lutheran Church in Moline, IL. She was the daughter of Harold Victor Freeburg and Viola Katherine Swanson Freeburg of Moline. They had their honeymoon in Iron Mountain, MI.
In February of 1951, he was drafted into the Army. He had basic training at Camp Breckenridge, KY, and was transferred to the faculty of The Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK, where he taught surveying, and did research and development work. He was discharged in February 1953.
After he was discharged from the Army, he returned to work at the utility company where he worked for about twenty-one years. He worked briefly for Tri-State Aero Engineering in LeClaire, IA, and Beling Engineering Consultants in Moline, IL, to gain experience. In 1974, he started his own consulting engineering firm, Withenbury Engineering Consultants, P.C., until 1989. He then worked for Stoewer Engineering until he retired in 1993.
During his professional career, he was a member of the Illinois Land Surveyor's Society, and the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers. In 1965, he was the President of the local chapter of the Quad City Chapter of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the Iowa Engineering Society. He was the general chairman of a two-state conference of those societies in Davenport, IA.
Richard was a lifetime member of the American society of Civil Engineers, the Doric Lodge #319, A. F. & A. M. in Moline, and the Consistory of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Moline. He was a member of the Rock Island County Illinois Genealogy Society.
Richard enjoyed cooking, photography and playing the organ. He has written a book on the genealogy of the Withenbury surname, and has traced and proven the linage from the year 1610 to the present.
Surviving are: his daughter, Pamela Swanson, her wife Maria Escarza, Moline, IL; his grandson, Gregory Laurence Swanson, his wife Jennifer Lynn Scharer Swanson, and his great-grand-daughter Emily Renee Swanson, Ottawa, IL, and his great-grand- son Adam Jeffrey Swanson, Ottawa, IL.
Online condolences may be left for his family by visiting esterdahl.com.
A graveside service will be 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the National Cemetery on the Rock Island Arsenal. Those wishing to attend should meet at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. 6601 38 Avenue, Moline, by 1:45 p.m.
Richard was born on April 16, 1928 at the Hinsdale Hospital and Sanitarium in Hinsdale, IL. He was the only child of Philip Sheridan Withenbury and Ruth Olive Larson Withenbury. They resided in Downers Grove, IL until he was four years old.
Richard went through the Moline schools and graduated from high school in 1946. He went to the University of Illinois and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor- of science degree in civil engineering, with a major in structural engineering, and a minor in surveying.
Upon graduation, he was employed as an engineer and surveyor by the Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company in Davenport, IA.
On August 12, 1950, he married Carol Jean Freeburg, in the First Lutheran Church in Moline, IL. She was the daughter of Harold Victor Freeburg and Viola Katherine Swanson Freeburg of Moline. They had their honeymoon in Iron Mountain, MI.
In February of 1951, he was drafted into the Army. He had basic training at Camp Breckenridge, KY, and was transferred to the faculty of The Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK, where he taught surveying, and did research and development work. He was discharged in February 1953.
After he was discharged from the Army, he returned to work at the utility company where he worked for about twenty-one years. He worked briefly for Tri-State Aero Engineering in LeClaire, IA, and Beling Engineering Consultants in Moline, IL, to gain experience. In 1974, he started his own consulting engineering firm, Withenbury Engineering Consultants, P.C., until 1989. He then worked for Stoewer Engineering until he retired in 1993.
During his professional career, he was a member of the Illinois Land Surveyor's Society, and the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers. In 1965, he was the President of the local chapter of the Quad City Chapter of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the Iowa Engineering Society. He was the general chairman of a two-state conference of those societies in Davenport, IA.
Richard was a lifetime member of the American society of Civil Engineers, the Doric Lodge #319, A. F. & A. M. in Moline, and the Consistory of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Moline. He was a member of the Rock Island County Illinois Genealogy Society.
Richard enjoyed cooking, photography and playing the organ. He has written a book on the genealogy of the Withenbury surname, and has traced and proven the linage from the year 1610 to the present.
Surviving are: his daughter, Pamela Swanson, her wife Maria Escarza, Moline, IL; his grandson, Gregory Laurence Swanson, his wife Jennifer Lynn Scharer Swanson, and his great-grand-daughter Emily Renee Swanson, Ottawa, IL, and his great-grand- son Adam Jeffrey Swanson, Ottawa, IL.
Online condolences may be left for his family by visiting esterdahl.com.
Service Details
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014, 2:30pm, National Cemetery
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