Howard P. Builta, 89, of Minonk, IL passed away at 11:07 am on Friday, October 23, 2009 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Minonk where he was a resident.
He was born on September 4, 1920 in Ellsworth, IL a son of Claire L. and Myrtle M. Murphy Builta. He married Alice A. Stimpert on April 27, 1942 in Fort Sill, OK. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Steven Builta of Malta, IL; one daughter, Rev. Cynthia Taylor of Minok, IL; one daughter-in-law, Claudia Builta of Palatine, IL; four grandchildren, Jeffrey (Claudia) Builta, Andrew (Erin) Builta, Kelly (Patrick) Sanders, Lyndsey (John) Eichholz, and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and one son, Howard C. Builta.
Howard graduated from the U of I with a B.S. degree in Agriculture. He was the founder and owner of the Bustencia Company, a self employed drainage engineer, and a farm manager.
An Army veteran, he served his country during WWII with the field artillery division. He went overseas with the 44th division as a decamp to Major General Scraggins. He retired with the rank of Major.
Howard was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Bloomington Consistory, life long member of the American Legion in Minonk, Rob Morris Lodge in Minonk, Woodford County Farm Bureau, Shriners in Peoria, Minonk-Dana-Rutland school board, Woodfornd County Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Woodford County Board. He also served as the Minonk Township Trustee, was on the board of directors of Illinois Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and was president of the Illinois Health Improvement Association.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, October 26, 2009 at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in Minonk. Rev. Keith Ferguson will officiate. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4-6 pm at the Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Monday. Burial will be in Minonk Township Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Hospital or Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Minonk. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.