HR0752 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0752 LRB096 15553 GRL 30784 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Ray Allen Watkins of Aurora, who passed away on October 26, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Ray Watkins was born on April 6, 1925, in Danville; his parents were Harry and India Watkins; he married Jo Ann Beyer on February 20, 1948, in Danville; and

WHEREAS, Ray Watkins was a graduate of Danville High School; after high school, he joined the United States Navy, serving with the Navy Seabees in the South Pacific theater during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Ray Watkins earned a degree in engineering from the Rose Polytechnical Institute in Terre Haute, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, In 1953, Ray Watkins and his family moved to Aurora, where he took a job with Pines Engineering as a mechanical design engineer; he later took a job with Western Electric in Montgomery, then transferred to AT&T in Lisle, where he remained until his retirement in 1990; he also served as a part-time drafting instructor at Aurora College and Waubonsee Community College; and

WHEREAS, Ray Watkins committed his life to Christ in his early twenties and led a life of giving and volunteer work; he served as a tutor for the Joliet and Channahon school districts and Waubonsee Community College's adult and family program; he worked with the God's Gym program at First Presbyterian Church and was a Helping Hand at the Dreyer Medical Clinic; he was a long-time member of Gideons International; he was also very active at his church, where he served on various boards, sang in the choir, and taught numerous Sunday School classes; and

WHEREAS, Ray Watkins is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jo Ann; his children and their spouses, Warren and Cheri Watkins, Ede and Mike Huff, Paul and Lois Watkins, Patty and John Brewer, Mark and Sharon Watkins, Win and Joe Lombardi, Chris and Ted Johnson, and Matthew and Nancy Watkins; his grandchildren, Brad, Kurt, and Angie Watkins, Marty, Rob, Jenny, Kit, and Peter Gurry, Amanda, Nicole, and Molly Watkins, Abby, Ben, Audrey, Teddy, Annie, Allie, and Addison Brewer, Justin, Luke, Clint, and Tyler Watkins, Jim and TJ Lombardi, Travis, Mitch, and Sean Johnson, and Bryan, Darryl, Melanie, and Rachel Watkins; and his great-grandchildren, Cole, Madison, Joslyn, Isabelle, and Noah Drietz, Mia Donald, Tiernan Roelofs, and Laurel Gurry; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Ray Allen Watkins; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ray Watkins as an expression of our sympathy.