Robert J. "Bob" Beswick, 88, of Rock Island, died Friday, Nov.21, 2014 at Fort Armstrong Senior Residence, Rock Island.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Two Rivers United Methodist Church, Rock Island. Burial will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, Ill. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities to honor his fellow veterans or to the Alzheimer's Association to support his friends with the disease.

Robert James Beswick was born March 28, 1926 in rural Morrison, a son of William and Hilda Conrady Beswick. He married Rita Conner on Nov. 4, 1949 in Fenton, Ill.

Bob began his career as a truck driver working for his uncle, Reuben Conrady and then for the National Tea Co., Smith Transfer and Dohrn Transfer. He later worked for the Centennial Bridge Commission as a toll taker, where he enjoyed visiting with everyone who came through the toll booth.

He was a WWII U.S. Army veteran and served in the 743rd Tank Battalion in Europe. Bob was very proud to have been on an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in the fall of 2009. He was a member of Two Rivers United Methodist Church, Rock Island and the American Legion Post 0328. Bob enjoyed woodworking and solving puzzles of all sorts.

Survivors include his wife, Rita; children, Ronald (Kari) Beswick, Rock Island, Roberta (James) Kavanaugh, Santa Clarita, Calif., Ralph (Susan) Beswick, Rock Island, Ruth Ann (David) Jost, Maquoketa, Iowa, and Reva Beswick, Rock Island; grandchildren, Matthew, Genny, Dana, Sara, Stacy, Nathan, Megan, Melissa, Taylor, Becca, Jennifer, Bobby, Courtney and Topher; great-grandchildren, Kaeden, Britton, Ariel, Cove, Lydia, Travis, Taylor, Gibson, Lillian and Porter; brothers, Richard (Grace) Beswick, Morrison and W. Edward (Cathy) Beswick, Fulton, Ill.; and sisters, Dorothy Rosenow, Morrison and Marjorie (Sam) Woodruff, Pisgah Forest, N.C. He was preceded in death by his parents; great-grandson, Jeremy; brother, Herbert Beswick; and two infant sisters.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com