[ Search ] [ Legislation ] [ Bill Summary ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
90_SR0032
LRB9005045KBkb
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of Ralph D. Owen of Decatur, Illinois;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, Ralph D. Owen was born on May 4, 1920, in
6 Waukesha, Wisconsin to Roy and Pearl Owen; Ralph Owen was a
7 graduate of Decatur High School and Millikin University; Mr.
8 Owen served with the Army Air Corps from 1940 until 1945; on
9 May 16, 1942 he married Julia Tuttle in McLean; and
10 WHEREAS, Ralph Owen was a long time entrepreneur of the
11 Decatur area, starting several businesses that continue to
12 this day; and
13 WHEREAS, Ralph Owen started his first business after
14 being discharged as a first lieutenant from the United States
15 Air Force in December of 1945; and
16 WHEREAS, The Hobby House opened on August 20, 1946,
17 followed by many changes, including new locations, the
18 addition of toys to the inventory, and branch outlets that
19 opened in Springfield, Champaign, Bloomington, Niles,
20 Mattoon, Homewood, and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as two
21 additional stores in Decatur; and
22 WHEREAS, Ralph Owen held the position of chairman of the
23 retail committee of the Downtown Decatur Council upon its
24 formation in 1958. While chairman, Mr. Owen worked on plans
25 for a downtown shuttle bus system, as well as a pedestrian
26 mall; and
27 WHEREAS, Mr. Owen opened Franklin Travel in 1968 after
28 feeling the desire to travel; as a result Mr. Owen traveled
29 to 85 countries and went around the world three times before
30 retiring from the business in 1986 and turning operations
31 over to his children; and
-2- LRB9005045KBkb
1 WHEREAS, Ralph Owen continued to work in Decatur after
2 his retirement, building new condominiums in the lake area of
3 Decatur; and
4 WHEREAS, Ralph Owen was a founder of Christ United
5 Methodist Church, and a member for over 50 years; Ralph Owen
6 was also a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity; and
7 WHEREAS, Ralph Owen is survived by his loving wife Julia;
8 two sons Bruce and William; daughter Martha Eller;
9 daughters-in-law Patricia and Cheryl; son-in-law Denny;
10 grandchildren Nicole, Martin, Carrie, John, Michelle, Julie,
11 Mary, Joshua, Jeffrey, Kristen, and Meghan; his two sisters
12 Mary Nelson and Mildred Ineich; one brother, William; and a
13 host of nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
14 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
15 OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn with the family and
16 the people of Decatur the loss of Ralph D. Owen; and be it
17 further
18 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to the family of Ralph D. Owen.