William Dearlove

William (Bill) Edward Dearlove, 85, of Thornville, passed away on September 19, 2012. He was born to William Gillard Dearlove and Edna E. (Leisberg) Dearlove on March 8, 1927 in Elgin, Illinois. He had his schooling there and graduated from Elgin High School. He joined the Navy Air Force in 1944; trained and served as an aircraft mechanic and served until 1946. He then went to the University of Illinois and graduated in 1950 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1963 he got his Masters degree in Engineering Administration from Bradley University, Peoria, IL. He joined Caterpillar Tractor Co. in 1951 and worked there in their research department for 35 years retiring in 1985.In 1956 he married Marion (Heidbreder) Longstreet and they lived in Morton, IL, then moved to Washington, IL, in 1958. In 1977 they bought a lot on Pine Island on Lake Vermillion near Tower, MN and with the help of their family they built a log cabin which they enjoyed for vacations and in retirement. After retiring in 1985 they moved to Port Charlotte, FL and since have enjoyed their winters in Florida and their summers at their cabin on Lake Vermilion, Tower, MN. In March 2010 they sold their Florida house and moved to Thornville, OH near their son Steven.He is survived by his loving wife Marion and three married sons: John L. Dearlove (Laurie) of Lake Forest, IL, Steven L. Dearlove (Billie) of Thornville, OH and Thomas J. Dearlove (Karen) of Kenai, AK. He has 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandson and two nephews, David (Lynne) Dearlove and George (Jean) Dearlove and a niece, Judy Dearlove.He is preceded in death by his father, William Dearlove, and his mother, Edna (Leiseberg) Dearlove and a brother Gillard Dearlove.He has enjoyed many activities one of the major ones was flying. He earned his solo license while still in high school and his private license after buying a two seat plane while working at Caterpillar proving grounds in Arizona as an engineer. He went from a two seat to a four seat Bananza plane and then the family got too large for this so he switched to building and flying model airplanes which continued on into retirement. He was a member of the Charlotte Radio Control Society flying club. He was also an avid reader and enjoyed fishing, gardening and traveling.He will be missed by his family and many friends. There will be a private family memorial at a later date. Funeral arrangements are being made by The Hoskinson Schoedinger Funeral home in Thornville, OH. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice, 6500 Busch Blvd, Columbus, OH 43229.