obert "Bob" Edwin Gaddis
Jerseyville (formerly of Medora) - Robert Edwin "Bob" Gaddis, 77 of Jerseyville (formerly of Medora), passed away at 12:40 a.m., Sunday, December 1, 2024 at Evercare of Jerseyville. Born in Alton, Illinois on September 21, 1947, he was the son of the late Robert Ellis and Helen Irene (Ruff) Gaddis. As a child, Bobby could be found helping do various jobs for his family business, Alton Laundry Company in Alton, Illinois, a business established in 1893 by his grandfather, E.M. Gaddis. Bob was a 1965 graduate of Alton High School and continued his education at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. He also went on to receive his Economics training at Washington University. Bob spent the weekends at his grandmother's farm in rural Medora, Illinois, where his passion for farming was born. He took over that farm, the last piece of Col. William Ruyle's original homestead to remain in the Ruyle family. After his grandmother's death, Bob farmed in the Medora and Chesterfield areas until 1998. At that time, he chose to lend his agricultural expertise to Eckert's Orchards, Inc. in Grafton, Illinois, where he worked as a foreman until his health forced his retirement in 2017. A lover of the outdoors, Bob also enjoyed hunting, fishing and just working his shed. He was a member, former Sunday School teacher and Trustee at Bethel Baptist Church in rural Jerseyville and also served on the Maple Lawn Cemetery Board of Directors for many years. He married the former Jean Ann Arnold on April 2, 1976 at Bethel Baptist Church and she survives. Also surviving are two daughters: Laura (Brady) Dabbs of Jerseyville and Emily Wilson of Highland; three grandchildren: Logan Dabbs, Kaitlyn Wilson and Reese Wilson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Larry and Stephanie Arnold, Judy and Darrell Fritz and Stephen Arnold; nieces, Cindy (Bruce) Kennedy, Moreland Gaddis, Elizabeth Heintz, Susan Neunaber and Jenilee Arnold; nephews: Theodore Gaddis, David Fritz, Adam Fritz and Jeremy Arnold; as well as several great-nieces, great-nephews and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Hope (Gaddis) Drew; a brother, Ellis Moreland Gaddis; his grandparents, E.M. and Bertha (Gallagher) Gaddis and Orson and Caddie (Barnes) Ruff; an uncle, Edwin M. Ruff; aunts: Lillian (Gaddis) Savage and Mary Perley (Gaddis) Hertlein; and two grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of funeral services at 11 a.m., Friday, December 6, 2024 at Bethel Baptist Church in Jerseyville. Pastor Joel Lohr will officiate. Burial will follow at Maple Lawn Cemetery in rural Medora. Memorials contributions may be made in name of Robert Gaddis to BJC Hospice, in care of The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital; 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive West, Suite 140; St. Louis, MO, 63110; or online at foundationbarnesjewish.org. Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com