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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Richard Roland "Dick" Ellinger of 
4Lewistown, who passed away on June 8, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dick Ellinger, the son of William and Agnes Marie 
6(Durbin) Ellinger, was born in Joliet on November 18, 1933; 
7after being orphaned at the age of six, he was raised by his 
8aunt and uncle, Betty and Homer Stovall, of rural Cowden; he 
9joined the U.S. Air Force on November 4, 1954; he then attended 
10Eastern Illinois University on the G.I. Bill, earning both his 
11Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education; he 
12married Faye Darlene Olinger in Beecher City on April 1, 1956; 
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, Dick Ellinger began his career in education as a 
15teacher in Neoga; he later went into administration, serving 
16as superintendent of schools for Cowden-Herrick Community Unit 
17School District (CUSD) #3A, superintendent for VIT CUSD #2, 
18and assistant regional school superintendent of Fulton County 
19for over seven years; he retired as superintendent of 
20Lewistown CUSD #97 in 1990; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Dick Ellinger belonged to many organizations 
22throughout his life, including Kiwanis, Rotary, VFW, the 
 
 
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1Fulton-Schuyler County Regional Superintendent Board, and the 
2National Horseshoe Pitching Association; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Dick Ellinger was an avid gardener, a diehard St. 
4Louis Cardinals fan, and a Civil War aficionado; he enjoyed 
5fishing, hunting, golfing, and mushroom hunting in his younger 
6years, and his lifelong interests included bowling, horseshoe 
7pitching, playing cards, and watching westerns; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Dick Ellinger was a good man, a hard worker, a 
9quiet giver, and a man of faith, having been baptized at the 
10First Christian Church of Cowden in 1969; he will be 
11remembered for possessing a real joy for life and an 
12infectious laugh; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Dick Ellinger was preceded in death by his 
14parents; his brothers, James William Ellinger, Lamoine 
15Ellinger, Herbert Dean Ellinger, and Harold Wayne Ellinger; 
16and his sister, Helen Marie Hood; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Dick Ellinger is survived by his wife of 68 
18years, Faye; his children, Katherine (Don) Taber, Homer 
19William Ellinger, Rick A. (Dory) Ellinger, and Michael L. 
20Ellinger; his grandchildren, Danielle Taber, Dustin (Brandy 
21Cozad) Taber, Katelin Frank, and Brandon (Victoria) Ellinger; 
22and his great-grandchildren, Kinsleigh, Karsyn, Chase, Jacoby, 
 
 
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1and Serenity; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
4Richard Roland "Dick" Ellinger and extend our sincere 
5condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
6him; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
8presented to the family of Dick Ellinger as an expression of 
9our deepest sympathy.