Arthur Daniel Badgley

On April 12, 2015 Art made his possibly final move on earth, kicked the bucket, scratched off or croaked as his old friend of the Sering gang would say. Born to Hubert A. Badgley and Ruth B. (Daniel) Badgley on September 9, 1920 in upper Alton, he was the eldest of three siblings. Clara Barton and Alton High School still bear the marks of his tenure. Horace Mann School was later razed and a replacement facility constructed after his lackadaisical attendance there. He was sent into the adult world with the June graduating class of 1938. A mentor of the first order, the late Emmett Nowlan furnished him a job in lower Alton repairing radios in the shop at 209 West 4th Street. Later, the late Al Renken gave Art a job at the Goulds Auto parts store on Piasa Street also in lower Alton (downtown as they say in the more elite communities). When the U.S.A. entered WW2 Art was eager to enlist, but his friends and neighbors selected him through the draft, and after a 6 month schooling hiatus at Fort Monmouth, N.J., he was sent to a remote installation in Agra, India hoping that his presence there wouldn’t appreciably slow the war effort. After surviving 26 months of mosquitos and monsoons he returned to a hero’s welcome in the U.S. of A. Later it was learned that the party with all the bells and whistles was for another person indeed. At various dates from 1946 to 1959 he was employed at Sears Roebuck as a field service person, at Al Renken Auto Service as a machinist, and Ben Ruyle Radio and TV service as a repairman. In 1959 Art opened his own small engine rebuilding shop in Godfrey. There he built a number of drag and circle track race engines until he took down his shingle in 1997. 1947 during the month of November, saw him wed to his then child bride, Rosalie Buffington of Alton. To this union were born Hubert, Brenna Bishop, Kenton, Karen Port and Carol Badgley. At last count eleven grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren graced the family tree. Ruth Reed, Arts sister, survives; a brother Russell died in 1995. The days Art loved best were at Smartt Field, Parks drag strip or Alton Drag way, rest in peace old friends, and his Wednesday lunches with the FBI Gearheads. The remains will be cremated (bake and shake as Art calls it). Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2015 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. Graveside services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Godfrey Cemetery with full military honors by the VFW Post 1308. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of choice. PDF Printable Version

Tributes

Arthur Daniel Badgley

September 9, 1920 - April 12, 2015