In loving memory of

Floyd R. Chambliss
May 23, 1937 - January 24, 2017

FLOYD CHAMBLISS
WILTON, Iowa - Floyd R. Chambliss, 79, of Wilton, passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at Genesis Hospital - East Campus, Davenport.

Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, January 30, 2017, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Pastor Paddy Druhl will officiate. Burial will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 until 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family in care of Marguerite Chambliss. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com.


Floyd was born on May 23, 1937, in Muscatine, the son of Charles 'Ray' and Ivah Benshoof Chambliss. He was raised on a farm outside of Wilton and graduated from Wilton High School. He married Marguerite Wainscott on September 15, 1965, in Davenport. Floyd lived for over 40 years on a small acreage east of Muscatine until moving back to Wilton around six years ago.

He served in the Iowa National Guard in the 1960's. He worked at Caterpillar Tractor in Davenport as a machine operator until 1988 and later at Prime Mover in Muscatine until his retirement in 2000. He always liked working the second shift. During the daytime hours he would look after his sons while Marge worked. On many mornings he would take his sons to Butterfields Bakery, Al Mauer's Auto Shop, and other coffee and donut shops where he could enjoy talking to farmers and other locals.

For part time work he had a small dump truck and would haul gravel and fill dirt to local farmers who never had a shortage of muddy lanes or other places that needed some filling in. In recent spring planting busy times he would drive a fertilizer truck for Sweetland Ag Tech. He also built small A-frame hog houses for farmers in need.

Some of his favorite activities included going antiquing. He like finding small brass items such as blow torches, hanging scales and oil cans that he could polish and put on display. He would use a small magnet he kept in his pocket to tell that it was real brass.

He also enjoyed finding antique toys and going to toy shows on almost any given weekend. Collecting and finding toy tractors and in particular Peter Marr toys like he had when he was a kid were some of his favorites.

Floyd also like seeing and occasionally tinkering with antique gas engines, and the Midwest Old Threshers and other antique farm tractor shows were often attended.

He was handy as a small project woodworker, making small projects such as outdoor furniture, bird houses, and turning wooden pens where often what he was up to.

Winter months in recent years were spent doing jigsaw puzzles. He spent many hours on many days sometimes till late at night assembling them.

His sons could count on having their dad help them with a fix it up or construction project at their homes after moving out on their own. It was often known well ahead of a visit what Dad was needed to help on.

Floyd loved his wife and sons very much and always had time for them. His passing surprised us and we will miss our husband and dad.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Marguerite Chambliss of Wilton; two sons, Warren Chambliss and wife, Libby, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Curtis Chambliss and wife, Jamie, and their son, Noah, all of San Jose, California; many nieces and nephews, many of whom lived in and around Eastern Iowa; and his cat, Johnny.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Gerald and Lester Chambliss.

Tributes

Karen McMillan wrote on Jan 30, 2017:

"Tim and I were so sorry to hear about Floyd. He will be missed by family and friends. Tim always enjoyed talking to him at Wainscott get togethers. I am sorry we can't be there but you are in our thoughts on this sad occasion. Take care, Karen and Tim"

Sarah Thomas wrote on Jan 28, 2017:

"I am so very sorry for Marguerite and Floyd's family, what a nice man. He teased me about playing boring Classical music when he had his dental visits. I always switched it after that. He didn't say much but he was funny when he did. "

Gwen and Chuck Koehler wrote on Jan 28, 2017:

"We are so pleased that we were able to become friends with Floyd and Marguerite over the past several years. We have been long time friends with Warren and Libby and when Floyd and Marguerite were in Colorado Springs visiting, mostly at Thanksgiving, they had their feet under our table! We enjoyed their additions to the meal and Marguerite always used her creative sewing skills to make something for us. We will certainly miss Floyd and send our cherished memories and love to the family."

James Kopf wrote on Jan 28, 2017:

"I worked with Floyd for many years at Caterpillar and lived in Muscatine also. He was and all around nice guy always a pleasure to be around. I'm sorry to hear of his passing. "

Richard Steffens wrote on Jan 27, 2017:

"So sorry to hear of Floyd's passing. We used to meet at the Wilton Express convenient store at night and "shoot the breeze". He was a truly good guy. R.I.P. Floyd."

Sue Hunt wrote on Jan 27, 2017:

"Floyd was always very quiet but when he did say something it always made me laugh. I loved his nick names for people and I will always think of him with a smile on my face. My heart goes out to Marguerite, the boys and their families!"