David George Poultney Obituary (1939

David George Poultney, 81, of Normal, IL died April 18, 2021 with his wife by his side. David was born November 29, 1939, the third son of George and Ruth King Poultney in Leominster, MA. He married Judy Rommer on June 2, 1962 in Pearl River, NY. She survives; they had been married 58 years. Also surviving are two sons Gregory (Jody), Bloomington, and Derek (Carey), Ojai, CA. There are four grandchildren: Sarah and Colin of Bloomington and Em-erson and Noah of California. Family survivors are brothers Sherman (JoAnne), Pittsboro, NC and Donald (Sally), Gardner, MA, a sister Karen (Glenn) Eschrich, Lakeland, FL as well as sister-in-law Patt Rommer, NY and brothers-in-law, Rob-ert Rommer, TN and Bob Battey, WA. David attended Drew University, Madison, NJ where he played college basketball and tennis, graduating in 1961. He received his Ph.D from the University of Mich-igan in 1968. His teaching career in music history and theory spanned years at the University of Missouri, Texas Tech University, and especially Illinois State University from 1968-1998, where he was a full professor of Music. He authored three books about music and was famous in the family for his many "Poultney-isms." He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Normal. One of the great loves of his life was camping and hiking, especially in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite National Park - hiking the complete John Muir Trail. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren - as a caregiver to Sarah and Colin from babyhood and a frequent visitor to Emma and Noah in California. David was an organist and pianist at several churches in his early career. He loved to travel, read, write fiction, garden, follow the Red Sox and Cubs, and col-lect recordings of opera and operatic singers. He loved being with his family more than anything. Memorials may be made to Illinois State University School of Music or Alz-heimer's Association. Notes of condolences and memories may be shared online at www.calvertmemorial.com Due to COVID-19, there will be a private celebration of his life held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Blooming-ton, IL.