- Date Of Birth: January 12, 1930
- Date Of Death: December 23, 2012
- State: Illinois
Donald M. Widdows, 82, of Jacksonville, passed away Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, at Jacksonville Skilled Nursing & Rehab.
He was born Jan. 12, 1930, in Jacksonville, the son of Forrest S. and Fern Howe Widdows. He married Loretta A. Keltner on Dec. 21, 1951, and she survives.
He is also survived by two sons, Timothy L. Widdows of Jacksonville and Philip P. (wife, Camille) Widdows of Cranford, NJ; one daughter, Deborah A. (husband, Robert) Kelchner of Edison, NJ; four grandchildren, Matthew J. (wife, Amy) Widdows, Jillian A. Widdows (fiancé, John Guarini), Faith T. Widdows, and Jacob T. Widdows; and one great-granddaughter, Rachel Claire Widdows.
Don was a 1951 graduate of McKendree College and received a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. He was employed by the Margaret Sanger Center-Planned Parenthood of New York City and St. Louis, MO, and as Chief Chemist for Monsanto in Kearney, NJ.
Since returning to Jacksonville in 2000, his main focus has been directed toward the preservation of the Governor Duncan Mansion, a member of the Board of Directors of Elm City, Jacksonville Area Genealogical and Historical Society, a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Museum, Elijah Smith Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Morgan County Historical Society, Governor Duncan Association and a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
