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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Derwood Keith Ruggles of Aledo, who 
4passed away on June 3, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Derwood Ruggles was born in Mercer County to Joe 
6B. and Cleda (Elschler) Ruggles on August 25, 1937; he 
7graduated from Aledo High School; he served in the U.S. Army 
8from July 1957 through July 1960; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Derwood Ruggles received training in fire 
10suppression and served the Aledo Fire Department for many 
11years, including 16 years as assistant chief; he also worked 
12for Alexis Fire Equipment doing tradeshows across the nation; 
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, Derwood Ruggles loved to tinker on things and did 
15body and service work for several years; he was a 
16jack-of-all-trades, including carpentry, masonry, plumbing, 
17and electrical; his real passion was antiquing, both 
18collecting and restoring, and he had his own shop for many 
19years in Aledo; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Derwood Ruggles was preceded in death by his 
21siblings, David, Harold, Garland, Joe, and Jim Ruggles, Orta 
 
 
SR1089- 2 -LRB103 41179 MST 74396 r

1Lee Comstock, Dortha McMurray, Ruth Swank, Mary Lou Orr, and 
2Tyra Bull; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Derwood Ruggles is survived by his companion, 
4June Wilson; his daughter, Julie Ricketts; his son, Derwood K. 
5"J.R." Ruggles; his grandchildren, Scott and Shannon; his 
6great-grandchildren, Archer and Sawyer; his stepchildren, 
7Kathleen (Rene) Rocha, Teresa (Garry) Little, Chris (Penny) 
8Brown, Tony (Dana) Nelson, and Becky (Jason) Dogget; several 
9step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and his 
10sister, Virginia Ruggles; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
13Derwood Keith Ruggles and extend our sincere condolences to 
14his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of Derwood Ruggles as an expression of 
18our deepest sympathy.