SR1248 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1248 LRB099 15476 GRL 39763 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ralph W. Burkhead of Canon City, Colorado, formerly of Rock Island, who passed away on October 14, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Burkhead was born October 15, 1924 in Kalamazoo, Michigan; his parents were Fred and Dorothy Timm Burkhead; he married Lorna McDougall on July 16, 1949 in Ottawa; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Burkhead was a World War II United States Marine Corps veteran; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Burkhead retired as a line supervisor from Illinois Bell Telephone, where he worked for 36 years; he also worked part-time for the Reynolds Phone Company, of which he was a part owner; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Burkhead was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rock Island and the Telephone Pioneers of America; he was an accomplished fast pitch softball pitcher and played well into his 70's; he also enjoyed camping, working in the yard, and washing cars; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Burkhead was preceded in death by his wife, Lorna; his parents; and his brothers, Edward and Jerome Burkhead; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Burkhead is survived by his children, Sherry Tonish, Daniel (Jan) Burkhead, Lynette (Scott) Grabau, Scot Burkhead (fiancee, Regina Cimino), and Laurie Burkhead; his grandchildren, Shawn (Tonia) Sutton, Ryan Sutton, Emily Tonish, Zach (Amanda) Burkhead, Sam Burkhead, Kimberly Grabau, and Tony Grabau; his great-grandchildren, Breezyn and Lily Sutton and Kayden Burkhead; his sister, Joan Hancks; his brother, David Burkhead; and his sister-in-law, Edith Brown; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Ralph W. Burkhead; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ralph Burkhead as an expression of our sympathy.