SR0082 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0082 LRB094 10772 HSS 41222 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Roy Dayton Wolfe of Edwardsville on Wednesday, February 9, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born March 3, 1916, in Honey Point Township in Macoupin County to Henry and Mabel (Barnes) Wolfe; he married Edna Sedlacek on October 15, 1941, in Edwardsville; and

WHEREAS, A 1934 graduate of Gillespie High School, he had been a resident of Edwardsville since 1939, when he established Taylor's Taxi; he later worked at Western Cartridge, now Olin Corp.; in January 1942, he joined the U.S. Army, trained at Camp Polk, Louisiana, and Camp Cooke, California, and maneuvered in the California desert before joining the Third Armored Division as they went overseas, finishing training in England; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wolfe served in the European Theatre, landing on Utah Beach in July 1944, serving with Gen. George Patton for the duration of the war as combat infantryman in the Ninth Armored Division; he saw action in Normandy, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany; he fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland, and central Europe until they met the Russian Army; his platoon participated in the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp; and

WHEREAS, He spoke to many groups about his wartime experiences; he received five campaign stars on the European Theatre Ribbon and the Silver and Bronze Stars; returning home, he went to work for Shell Oil, where he worked until retiring; and

WHEREAS, The 20-year Edwardsville Township trustee was a 50-year member and past president of the Kiwanis club, Democratic Committeeman of Precinct 9 for 50 years, and a member of the Muny Band board, Edwardsville Community Foundation, and Edwardsville YMCA Century Club; he was also active with the St. Louis Gateway Chapter Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1299, American Legion Post 199, Sixth Armored Division Association, Seventh Armored Division Association, Madison County Democratic executive board, Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation Inc., Township Officials of Illinois, Shell Recreation Association, Friends of St. Louis Zoo Association, and the Madison County Mental Health Clinic board; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wolfe loved children, and one of his greatest joys was being Santa Claus for children for many years; his passing has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Edna; his daughters, Sue Wolfe Ricker and Jana Wolfe; his granddaughter, Courtney Ricker Black; his great-granddaughter, Paige Elizabeth Black; his sisters, Geraldine Kennedy and Fern Sexton; and his brother, Maynard Wolfe; he was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Alan Roy; his brother, Russell Wolfe; and his sister, Byrl Wolfe Griva; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Roy Dayton Wolfe, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest condolences during their time of bereavement.