Rita Gillespie
January 25, 1944 — February 6, 2017
Rita M. Gillespie, 73, formerly of Bettendorf, died February 6, 2017 at Generations at Rock Island, following a courageous battle with diabetes.
Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 10, 2017 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9th and from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.
Born on January 25, 1944 in East St. Louis, Illinois, Rita was the daughter of Frank J. and Adelle M. (Metzger) Mathews. On January 27, 1963 in Okawville, Illinois, she married George D. Gillespie, Sr. He preceded her in death on April 26, 1992.
Rita worked as a baker for Hardee’s for many years. She enjoyed baking, the outdoors and cherished her time spent with family.
Those left to honor her memory include her sons, George (Pam) Gillespie, Jr. of Hartford, South Dakota, Gordon (Jennifer) Gillespie of Lexington, South Carolina, Jim (Holly) Gillespie of Cumming, Georgia, Aaron Gillespie of Moline, Dean Gillespie, and Michael Gillespie of Swansea, Illinois; daughter, Lynn (Terry) King of Collinsville, Illinois; twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; sisters, Doris and Bobbie; and a brother, Frank.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Tyler King; one brother and four sisters.