Pearson, Richard E.

Pearson_RichardMr. Richard E. Pearson, 90, of Galesburg died at 11:45 pm Thursday March 5, 2015 in Galesburg Cottage Hospital.

He was born August 23, 1924 in Galesburg, the son of Roy H. E. and Jennie O. Palmquist Pearson, Sr. He married Eva Lucille Olin on September 18, 1949 in Galesburg. She survives.

Also surviving are his two sons, David R. (and Laurie) Pearson and Steven E. Pearson both of Galesburg, his sister, Jeannette (and Harland) Johnson of Sioux City, Iowa and his two granddaughters, Erin (and Jared) Surratt and Lauryn Pearson. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Roy Pearson, Jr. and a sister, Katherine M. E. Pearson.

He served in the US Navy for three years in the South Pacific as a 2ndMate Hospital Corpman during World War II.

Richard was a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He was owner and operator of Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Home for over 40 years with his partner Jack Hinchliff. He retired in 1988.

He was a 1942 graduate of Galesburg High School. He attended Augustana College and graduated from Knox College in 1949. He then graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science.

Richard was a member of the Alpha Lodge 155. He was a past patron of the Violet Chapter 235 Order of the Eastern Star and was a Shriner. Richard was a member, as well as past president and past secretary, of the Galesburg Noon Lions Club. He was a recipient of a Melvin Jones Fellow and was a Lions of Illinois Foundation Fellow. He was a member of the Knox 50 Year Club.  He was a long time volunteer at the Galesburg Public Library.

Richard was a member of the Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285 and the VFW Post #2257. Richard was a very active member of First Lutheran Church. He served as Usher General, was Sunday School Superintendent, taught Sunday school and served on Church Council.

Funeral services will be 10:00 am Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel with military honors. Rev. Pamela Marolla will officiate. Visitation will be 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at the Chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church or the Galesburg Community Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com

ReCENT POSTS

Loading...