MT. ZION – Billy O. Peel 88, of Decatur, passed away at 10:55 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at Decatur Memorial Hospital. He retired in 1990 from General Motors Corporation.
A memorial service celebrating his life is 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 8, at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the service time at the funeral home
Mr. Peel was born Oct. 5, 1927, at Paris, the son of the late Everett O’Neill and Bessie Mae Scott Peel. He married Patricia A. Sprouls Jan. 7, 1945. She preceded him in death July 4, 1992. He later married Judy I. Snoddy March 20, 1999, and she survives.
Surviving are his daughters, Shirley Turner of Mt. Zion, Karen (Ken) Brown of Decatur and Donna Richardson of Cincinnati, Ohio; sons, Larry (Debbie) Peel of Terre Haute, Ind., and Michael Peel of Champaign; stepson, Mitch (Christine) Swim of Mahomet; brother, Richard (Penny) Peel of North Carolina; grandchildren, Stacey Turner of Canyon City, Colo., Molly Turner of Mt. Zion, Karrie (Dan) Kalmes of Bloomington, Cortney (Brad) Smetanko of Heyworth, Brian (Lauren) Richardson of Cincinnati, Jeff (Tara) Peel of Iowa, Garrison Peel of Chrisman, Jared Peel of Marshall, Shannon (Keith) Bastian of Princeton, Ind., Shaun Woolard of Marshall and Hannah Swim and Megan Swim, both of Mahomet; also surviving are nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, John; sister, Charity Singley; grandson, Chase Peel; and sons-in-law, Gaylan Turner and Danny Richardson.
Mr. Peel served in the U.S. Army and was a World War II veteran. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He loved animals and enjoyed feeding birds. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mt. Zion Christian Church.
Online condolences may be left at www.dawson-wikoff.com.