Robert W. Westbrook

Robert W. Westbrook, 93, of Moline, Illinois, died Thursday, March 5, 2015, in the Lighthouse of Silvis, Silvis, Illinois.

A hospitality visitation is 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday in CityView Celebrations at Trimble Pointe.

Funeral services are 11 a.m. Monday in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, with The Reverend Scott Carlson officiating. Following the funeral friends are invited to a funeral luncheon at CityView Celebrations at Trimble Pointe. Burial will then follow the luncheon at the Wagner Cemetery in Louisa County, Iowa. Memorials may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church.

Robert Wagner Westbrook was born December 20, 1921, in Letts, Iowa, to Benjamin Harrison and Mable (Wagner) Westbrook. He married Esther Ruth Laeser on June 15, 1944, in El Paso, Texas Before being deployed by the Army Air Corps during WW II as a B24 pilot with the 8th Airforce, 448th Bomb Group, 712th Squadran based in Seethling, England. He completed 35 bombing missions logging over 750 hours as pilot in command. During his deployment Robert earned a European-Afican-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, a Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. Robert remained in the Air National Guard until 1955.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps in 1944 he graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelors degree in General Engineering. He was employed by Mid-American Energy as an industrial engineer for 37 years, retiring in 1988.

Robert was a former Moline Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Man of The Year and Moline Jaycees Key Man/past President. Memberships include Riverside United Methodist Church, Moline, Moline Lodge #1014, AF & AM, Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Moline, Kaaba Shrine Temple, Moline High Twelve Club, Moline Breakfast Optimist Club (Charter Member), Moline Noon Optimist Club (past President), Moline Elks Lodge and City of Moline Park Board. He enjoyed woodworking and gardening, and was an avid outdoors sportsman, especially trapping, hunting and fishing.

Robert is survived by his wife of 70 years, Esther; His son, Terry Westbrook of East Moline; two granddaughters, Margy Westbrook and Elinor Westbrook, both of Oakland, Tennessee; and a sister, Jessie Lee Butcher of Bettendorf, Iowa. He was preceded in death by five brothers and one sister.

Robert's family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a free candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.