Published on August 13, 2025 6:23 pm
Last Updated on August 13, 2025 6:24 pm
William Otis “Bill” Whightsel, age 69, formerly of Mattoon, Illinois, passed away on Monday October 7, 2024.
Services celebrating Bill’s, life will be held at 12:00 PM (Noon) – Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Rick Britton officiating. The burial will be in the Trexler Cemetery west of Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.
William “Bill” was born on June 30, 1955, the son of Otis and Rose Mary “Rosie” (Jenkins) Whightsel. Due to Bill having a childhood illness, his family moved to Arizona, for the climate when he was 2 years old. A few years later his illness went into remission and the family moved back to Illinois to be near relatives and friends.
Bill participated in Cub Scouts in his younger years and enjoyed sports until his illness returned, limiting his mobility. He continued with an interest in sports serving as the manger for the football team in high school, Mattoon, Green Wave. His senior year he learned some business skills serving on the student counsel and graduated with the Class of 1974. Bill went on to further his education by attending Eastern Illinois University, graduating in 1978, with a Bachelor of Science in Business. He was employed with the Lakeland College Business Department in financial aid services from 1976 until 2005. Bill later moved to Jonesboro, Illinois, to be near family.
Bill attended the Methodist Church in Mattoon during his youthful years with his family. He enjoyed arrowhead and rock hunting, cars and liked to buy and trade them, and especially enjoyed cruising in his cars.
Bill is survived by: Sister Carol Ann Chapman of Marion, Illinois; special Aunt Shirley Sanders of Flat Rock, Illinois; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Danny Chapman, paternal grandparents Frederick “Fred” and Villa E. (Kirkham) Whightsel and maternal grandparents William O. and Mabel Joy (Oliver) Jenkins.