Robert Edward Gillespie, 75, of The Villages, FL, went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 24, 2015. He was born October 3, 1939 in Charleston, Illinois. He was the son of the late Robert Logan and Esther Reba (Stanfield) Gillespie. Robert is survived by his wife, Catherine (Vaughan) Gillespie; daughter, Tammy Lynn Goodspeed (Michael) of Greentown, Indiana; granddaughters, Michaela, Jenna and Jessica; brother, Lowell Owen Gillespie (Judy) of Charleston, Illinois; niece, Vicki Thomas of Coral Springs, Florida. He was predeceased in death by his son Robert Leroy Gillespie in 1989. Robert has a degree in Law Enforcement from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in Education from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Robert is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War. He also served as a police officer at the University of Illinois for seven years and was Police Officer of the Year in 1974. He moved to South Florida in 2000 and then to The Villages, Florida in 2003. He enjoyed The Villages culture with his wife of 31 years, Catherine. Dancing, gardening, cooking, astronomy and military history were just some of the interests he pursued. Robert was a member of Community United Methodist Church, Fruitland Park, Florida and The Villages Second Honeymooners Club, the Baby Boomers Club and the Pennsylvania Club. He loved animals especially his cats. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services 1511 Buenos Aires Blvd., The Villages on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 for visitation from 9:30 – 11 a.m. with funeral services at 11 a.m. to follow with burial in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
