David Reaves Salter, 73, of Rio, Illinois, passed away peacefully Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026.
He was born Oct. 13, 1952, in Oxford, England, the son of Lewis Spencer and Mary Anna (Morse) Salter. He was raised and educated in the ROVA School District graduating from ROVA High School in 1970. He later obtained his bachelor’s degree in art from Knox College in 1975.
David was a proud veteran of the United States National Guard, where he served for 22 years, including a tour in Iraq from 2003-2005.
He married Kimbra Janssen on Nov. 3, 2001, and she survives.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Kimbra, of Rio; sons, Brandon (Sarah) Queen of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and Greg (Shayna) Queen of Quincy, Illinois; granddaughters, McKayla and Macie Queen; siblings, Allen (Kim) Salter of Evanston, Illinois, John (Joyce) Salter of LaCrescenta, California, Andrew (Carolina) Salter of Crawfordsville; sister-in-law Kristine (Brad) Erickson of Westby, Wisconsin; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
David was preceded in death by his parents.
David worked for the Galesburg Police department for over 20 years. He was a volunteer fire fighter with the Rio Fire Department. He was a member of the Grace Anglican Church and served as a trustee on the Rio township board. He was also a member of the Illinois Police Association. He enjoyed target shooting, camping, kayaking, canoeing and anything that included being outdoors. He was an avid skydiver, having jumped over 400 times. He was an artist and greatly enjoyed practicing his craft. He was also a very social man and loved having coffee with his dinosaur (retired police officer) group and his “beer-thirty” group.
A time of visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7 at the Grace Anglican Church, 151 E. Carl Sandburg Drive, Galesburg. Interment with military honors will be in the Ontario Cemetery, Ontario, Illinois.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Anglican Church or the Rio Volunteer Fire Department. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg, Illinois.
