Richard Thomas Gabbard

Richard Thomas Gabbard, 59, of Atwood, IL passed away at 3:47 PM on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL.

Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Southern Baptist Church in Arthur, IL. Rev. Doug Davis will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the church. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Richard was born on November 30, 1966 in Tuscola, IL. He was a son of Robert Wayne Gabbard and Darlene Lenore (Gough) Phillips.

He is survived by five children, Paige Partenheimer and her husband Blaze of Newman, IL, Cortnee Hack of Hammond, IL, Luke Gabbard and his wife Sierra of Atwood, IL, Nancy Helmuth and her husband Derrick of Atwood, IL, and Emma Hack of Atwood, IL, his mother, Darlene Phillips of Atwood, IL, his father, Robert Gabbard of Camargo, IL, 12 grandchildren, Wrigley, Rorey, Colin, Addison, Briggs, Kyle, Elijah, Rhett, Wynette, Gene, Sawyer and Fallon, four siblings, Mike Gabbard of Arthur, IL, Lisa Funk and her husband Rob of Arthur, IL, Shawn Gabbard of Atwood, IL, and Tyler Gabbard and his wife Amber of Mattoon, IL.

He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Gary Phillips, his stepmother, Verleta Gabbard, one brother, Bill Gabbard, maternal grandparents, Bill and Margarett Gough, paternal grandparents, Ben and Emogene Gabbard, niece, Darcy Cain, nephew, Eric Gabbard, an aunt, Deanna Kestner, uncles, Bill Gabbard, Tom Gabbard, and Dick Gabbard, Bill Gough, and several cousins.

Richard was a member of the Iron Workers Local Union 380, a trade he worked in for 31 years. This position was a family tradition, as it was shared by his father, grandfather and son, Luke.

Outside of work, Richard cherished the time spent with his family and friends. Weekends were often filled with gatherings where they enjoyed playing backyard games and throwing washers. He had a passion for outdoor activities, which included fishing, rabbit hunting, and canoeing along the Embarrass River and Kaskaskia Rivers from Camargo to Greenup.

Richard was known as an old soul with a deep appreciation for music. He possessed a wealth of random facts, much of which he gained from watching Jeopardy and enjoying classic movies like The Andy Griffith Show. He also enjoyed traveling to Indianapolis to watch NHRA, Top Fuel Drag Racing and watching flat track motorcycling in Springfield.

Memorials may be made to donor’s choice of Illinois Conservation Foundation or Illinois Department of Natural Resources.