Larry Widdows

Larry Widdows, 81, of East Peoria, passed away on Wednesday, May 1 2024, at his residence, surrounded by his family. He was born on September 10, 1942, in Matthews, MO, a son of Ralph and Ruth (Winders) Widdows. He married Lila "Kitty" Borton on June 14, 1963, in Peoria. She survives. Larry is also survived by his sons, Brian (Kimberly) Widdows of East Peoria and Darren Widdows of West Peoria; sister, Brenda (Jay) Meinrich of Peoria; and cousin, Glen Alsup of East Peoria. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jack Widdows; and sister, Kathy Adams. Larry graduated from East Peoria Community High School in 1961. While there, he excelled as an athlete and was inducted into the EP Hall of Fame for basketball. Larry went on to have a successful career at Caterpillar, where he worked for 30 years, retiring in 1991. Following his retirement, he continued to serve the community by working at the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center as a driver. Larry's true calling was found in his unwavering dedication to the children of East Peoria. He spent countless hours coaching Little League teams, overseeing Bitty Basketball games, umpiring and maintaining the ball fields where young athletes honed their skills. His commitment to the youth extended beyond sports, as he served on the school board, making a lasting impact on generations of students with his leadership and advocacy. Larry's involvement in the Moms Who Care program further demonstrated his dedication to supporting and uplifting the children of East Peoria. In his free time, Larry enjoyed competitive pool competitions and was known as a mentor and teacher to aspiring players. He played on numerous pool teams and achieved the remarkable feat of winning second place in the country in the Busch Pool League. An Open House Celebration of Larry's Life will be from 4 pm until 7 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at the UAW Hall in East Peoria on Springfield Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Larry's memory to Moms Who Care. Larry's Memorial Website and online condolences may be accessed at www.MasonFuneralHomes.com. Funeral and cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Mason White Funeral Home in Washington.