Ronald Dudley Billups
Born: March 3rd, 1940
Died: June 8th, 2011
Obituary
Ron Billups, 71, of Burlington, died at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington. Born March 3, 1940, in Stronghurst, Ill., he was the son of Walter Webster and Margaret F. Norville Billups. On Aug. 28, 1960, he married Jean Elizabeth Rasmussen in Stronghurst. Mr. Billups founded Billups Tire in Burlington and Fort Madison on April 1, 1976, and was president of the company. He graduated from Stronghurst High School in 1958. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church. He had served as president of Burlington/West Burlington Chamber of Commerce, and received the Emmy Award in 1988, and the Chairman's Award in 2010. He was a member of Greater Burlington Partnership, Burlington Steamboat Days Board where he served as president in 1983, Bike Burlington, and Iowa Tire Dealers Association. He received the Volunteer of the Year Award for Main Street Iowa in 2010, and served as chairman of several organizations. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and bicycling. He rode on RAGBRAI five times. He also enjoyed the outdoors, NASCAR, SCC Blackhawk basketball, and time with family. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jon Billups of Burlington, and Tom Billups of Berkeley, Calif.; on daughter, Christine "Bear" Billups of Burlington; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one brother, Harry Billups of Sherrard, Ill.; one sister, Resa George of Stronghurst; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Hass-Thielen Funeral Home in Burlington, where family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. The Rite of Christian Burial for Mr. Billups will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Christ Episcopal Church, the Rev. John Horn officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. A memorial has been established for downtown beautification.