Billy Lindsay

Billy Lindsay, 87, of Flat Rock, IL, died at 4:27 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at his son's home in Lawrenceville, IL. He was born on May 25, 1932, in rural Flat Rock, IL, the son of Lyman & Pauline (Neal) Lindsay. He grew up in the Flat Rock area but attended school in Palestine. A talented basketball player, he was talented enough to letter his freshman year at PHS. Upon graduation, Billy proudly served his country as a flight engineer in the U.S. Navy for four years, and in that course of time, he saw the world and gathered countless stories in the process. Back home, he fell in love with a waitress he met at Marguerite’s Café in Flat Rock, Betty Miller. They would marry on December 31, 1955, and soon after moved to Harvard, IL, where they started their family. They moved back to Flat Rock in the early 1960's, where Billy worked a few odds and ends before getting on with Texaco, with whom he drove a truck for 17 years. The times he spent on the road were some of the most meaningful of his 87 years. No matter what he was doing, free time was spent tending to the earth as a farmer. Anyone who knew him could attest to the fact that the man's work ethic was second-to-none, and if he did something, it was done right. Away from work, he spent countless hours outdoors, be that fishing or hunting. Recent years found him following Lawrenceville basketball, and this was a simple pleasure that brought him joy in his final days. Billy Lindsay lived a quiet and simple life, but it was a life well-lived. He will be remembered as a story-teller extraordinaire, and the stories he told are forever ingrained in the hearts of those blessed enough to know him. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 63 years, Betty Lindsay, who passed November 18, 2018. He was also preceded in death by his parents; by his daughter, Lisa Lindsay-Young & husband Dr. Stephen Young; by his siblings, Patty Brown, Betty Nicklaus, Donna Nicklaus, and Jack Lindsay. He is survived by his daughter, Kathy & husband Keith Boyer (Lawrenceville, IL); by his sons, Bill Lindsay (Lawrenceville, IL) and John Lindsay (Vincennes, IN); by his grandchildren, Kehrt, Matthew, Austin, Mindy, and Colt; by his siblings, Charles & Jeanette Lindsay (Flat Rock, IL), Revene & Bill Awe (Woodstock, IL), and Lyman, Jr. & Carolyn Lindsay (Flat Rock, IL); as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. A time of visitation will be held from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17th at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Flat Rock. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 18th at the funeral home with his cousin, Pastor Rex Seitzinger and his brother-in-law, Dave Miller officiating the service. During the service, friends and family will have the opportunity to share some of their favorite memories of Billy. Burial will be in the Jones Cemetery, where military services will be conducted by the combined units of the Robinson V.F.W. Post #4549, the Robinson American Legion Post #69, and the Flat Rock American Legion Post #132. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans, "DAV", a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.