Walter William Chamberlain

Walter William Chamberlain, 84, of rural Monmouth, died Sunday, May 29, 2016 at 4:50 a.m. in Marigold Health Care and Rehab, Galesburg. He was born July 16, 1931 in West Jersey, to Ray Milton and Florence Elizibeth Rennick Chamberlain. He went to West Jersey Grade School for 8 years, Toulon High School for 2 years, and graduated from Toulon High School through Bradley G.E.D. in 1955. He worked for various farmers and Walworth’s in Kewanee from 1950 to 1955. Walt joined the US Marine Corp on September 9, 1952. He spent 16 months in Korea with the 1st Armored Amphibious Battalion as forward observer and fired direction center from March 1953 to July 1954. He served 4 weeks as guard of Naval Ammunition Department at Fort Mifflin, PA. He was discharged in September 1954. He worked as a truck driver for Choffey Paul Truck Lines hauling bricks in 1955 in Galesburg. He then began a long career driving a truck for Alton Box Co. in Galesburg in June of 1957 until his retirement in 1998. He drove 3, 000,000 miles accident free miles without a chargeable accident. He retired in 1988 after a fall from a ladder breaking his leg, hip, and a dislocated shoulder at the age of 66. Walt married Beverly Ann Snyder in Galesburg on January 13, 1957. She survives. He is also survived by two daughters, Cindy Joleen Appenheimer of Toulon and Colette Joan Verran of Daytona Beach, FL; and 6 grandchildren, Brandon Appenheimer of Toulon, Megan (Nathan) Lane of Toulon, Katie Appenheimer of Salisbury, NC, Adam Verran, Jeremy Verran, and Cody Welsh all of Daytona Beach, FL. He is also survived by 4 great grandchildren, Bryan Hegwood of Princeton, Michelle Lane, Hailey Lane, and Jonathan Lane all of Toulon; his special cat, Violet; a special nephew, Michael Blackburn; and a dear friend, Michael Hall. He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Chad Appenheimer; and two nephews, Kevin and Randy Chamberlain. Visitation will be 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 5, 2016 at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Military rites will be conducted at 2 p.m. with memorial services to follow. Graveside services will be Monday, June 6, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in West Jersey Cemetery, West Jersey, IL. Memorials may be made to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.