William Robert (Bob) Randall, 93 of Arthur went to his rest on Sunday, July 7, at 10:10 PM at the Arthur Home. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at Zion United Church of Christ in rural Arthur on Sunday, July 14, with a funeral service immediately following. Burial will be after the funeral with military rites accorded. Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bob was born in Atwood on April 22, 1920. He was the first-born of three children to Osa Olena (McQuay) and William Bryan Randall. He had one brother, Laverne (Pete) Randall of Kankakee, IL and one sister, Helen (Gentry) Warner (deceased) formerly of Hammond, IL.

Bob graduated from Atwood High School in 1939. He married his high school sweetheart, Grace VonLanken of Garrett, IL on April 27, 1941 and celebrated over 61 years of marriage before she passed away on the last day 2002.

Their marriage produced a son, Robert L. Randall and his wife Sharon of Elmhurst, IL and their children Cami Smith, and Jori Boeckman and her husband Darrel and family; a daughter, Donna J. Beauchamp and her husband Ed of Lovington, IL and their children Trudy Feyereisen and her husband John, and Angie Powell and her husband Darren and family; and a son, Rod Randall and his wife Carol of Arthur, IL and their children Jennifer McCormick and her husband Kyle, and Rob Randall. Surviving are also several nieces and nephews and their families.

Bob served in the US Army during WWII and fought in the Pacific Theater of Operations. After the war he remained stationed in Tokyo, Japan as part of a disarmament unit to collect surrendered weapons from the city's population.

Upon his return to civilian life, Bob first began as a general contractor, building a few homes in Arthur. Soon, though, he went to refrigeration school in Chicago, returning again to Arthur to ply his new trade. Many of the downtown businesses of Arthur were first air conditioned by Bob's Refrigeration including Mose's Cafe, the Ben Franklin Store, and the La Mar Theater. He also installed and maintained much of the original refrigeration equipment for Harrer's IGA grocery store in downtown Arthur.

In 1950, he and his wife Grace moved the business to its present location and renamed it Randall Electric. With expanding opportunities for electrical service to the rural community around Arthur and Atwood through the Rural Electrification Act (REA), Bob and his uncle, Loren Randall, wired several farm houses and farm buildings for electricity for the first time. He also installed the first modern outdoor light poles for Main Street Arthur and was the HVAC and electrical contractor for some of the finest homes in town.

The business transformed over the years as technology changed and Bob became involved in selling the first televisions in the area and installing TV antenna systems for hundreds of homes. Soon, the business added the sale and servicing of major household appliances much like it does today. In 1982 the business was transitioned to his son, Rod, but even after 66 years of continuous operation Bob maintained a keen interest in the business and checked in on the store almost every day.

Over the years Bob was an active participant in the life of the Arthur community and supported many community endeavors with his time and resources. He had deep family roots in the Arthur-Atwood area and enjoyed the relationships, both business and personal, he had with so many people of those communities.

Bob especially cared for the well-being of his church and his fellow members attending there, so it is suggested that memorials be made to Zion UCC to help with the current construction project of a more accessible entrance into the church for those with disabilities.

Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.hilligossshraderfh.com.