SR0719 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0719 LRB098 15004 MST 49960 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Arthur J. Lindsey of Wood River, who passed away on November 6, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Lindsey was born on July 11, 1922 in Jonesboro to Ada Mae (nee Barker) and William Arthur Lindsey; he attended a one-room school house in Union County for his primary education; he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at age 16 and helped construct various infrastructure projects, such as Giant City State Park in Southern Illinois; he received his General Education Diploma from East Alton-Wood River High School; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Lindsey moved to the Alton area in 1940 and worked as a delivery boy for local grocers, florists, and dry cleaners; he married Dorothy Didway in Ramsey on January 1, 1942; he joined the United States Army on December 15, 1942 and served in Company A of the 52nd Engineering Battalion; he served in the South Pacific Theater during World War II; he was on a landing craft alongside the USS Missouri when the Japanese surrendered and he became one of the first 50 U.S. soldiers to occupy Japan at the end of the war; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Lindsey returned to Alton following World War II and worked as a car salesman for Carter Ford in Wood River, Barnett Volkswagon in Alton, Stuart Motors in Wood River, and was a partner at Ellege Auto Sales in East Alton; he opened his own insurance agency in 1965 through American Family Insurance and in 1970, he was elected Superintendent of Veterans Assistance Commission of Madison County, serving until his retirement in 1989; during his tenure as Superintendent, he was one of the founding members of the Illinois Association of County Veterans Assistant Commissions, serving for a time as President; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Lindsey was a life member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post #204, Past 22nd District Commander of the American Legion, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2859, member of AmVets - Disabled American Veterans Chapter 90, and a member of the Forty and Eight; he served on the Illinois Veterans Home Advisory Board and spent many hours volunteering at the John Cochran and Jefferson Barracks Divisions with the Veterans Administration St. Louis Health Care System; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Lindsey was a member of First Christian Church of Wood River; he served as President of the Lincoln School Parent-Teacher Organization in 1959 and as a Charter Organization Representative for Boy Scout Troop #35 for many years; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Lindsey was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his siblings, Bill Barker, Claude (Betty) Lindsey, Marie (Vernie) Anderson, Thelma (Darrel) Hileman, Bernice (Edward) Obert, and an infant brother; his in-laws, Dean and Mary Grissom, Frank Morris, and Irene Didway; his nephew, Tommy Potter; and his granddaughter, Gwendolyn May Sorega; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Lindsey is survived by his daughter, Sheila May (nee Lindsey) Sorega; his son, Kevin Arthur (Susan) Lindsey; his grandchildren, Todd (Tracey) Sorega, Tiffany Dawn Sorega, Ryan Howard Lindsey, and Shannon Marie Lindsey; his great-grandchildren, Donavin, Dylan, and Dawson Klunk; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Arthur J. Lindsey, and extend our sincere condolences 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 the family of Arthur Lindsey as an expression of our deepest sympathy.