FAMILY

Sons: Larry Vander Wilt - Green Cove Springs, Florida and Richard Junior Vander Wilt - Davenport, Iowa

Sister-In-Law: Iola Vander Wilt - Leighton, Iowa

Richard Vander Wilt

Richard Vander Wilt, first child of Gerrit J. and Emma Meyer Vander Wilt, was born April 3, 1916, in Black Oak township in Mahaska County.

He attended Black Oak School, completing the eighth grade. The Great Depression kept him from pursuing his education further due to the necessity of supplementing the family income. This he did by driving his father's dump truck, delivering grain and coal for neighbors, which began his lifelong love of trucking.

He worked in farming and during World War II he helped build Liberty ships in California. He worked in copper mining in Arizona and drove a bus for Greyhound Lines before returning to farming and part-time trucking near Sully.

In 1955 he moved his family to Davenport and began trucking fulltime. In the late 1960's his trucking career took him to Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained in trucking until he was seventy-eight years old.

Richard passed away January 31, 2007, in Memphis, Tennessee. He is survived by his two sons and their wives: Larry E. and Linda Vander Wilt of Green Cove Springs, Florida, and Richard Junior and Karen Vander Wilt of Davenport; three grandchildren: Lucy Lee Wight, Wendy Kay Cash, and Joseph Allen Vander Wilt; four great-grandchildren; his sister, Wilma Memmelaar of Eddyville; and his sister-in-law, Iola Vander Wilt of Pella.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, and two brothers: Paul Elvin and Elvin.

FUNERAL SERVICES

1:00 P.M., Friday, February 9, 2007
Garden Chapel Funeral Home Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

Visitation will begin 9:30 A.M. Friday, February 9, 2007, with family present prior to the service from 11:00 A.M. -12:30 P.M. at the Garden Chapel Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa.

MEMORIALS

May be given to the family in Richard's name

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