Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

Deaths

Mary Ann Armstrong, 71, died April 25 at her Champaign home. She worked for the U. of I. for 10 years, retiring in 2001 as a typing clerk III for Personnel Services Office. Memorials: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.

Robert B. Ash, 79, died April 15 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. He was a professor of mathematics for 26 years, retiring in 1989. 

Kathryn Irene Beckhart, 84, died April 14 at her Monticello home. She worked at Allerton Park, primarily at the 4-H camp as an administrative assistant. Memorials: Piatt County Animal Shelter, 1115 N. State St. #120, Monticello, IL 61856, or to the 4-H Memorial Camp for a need-based camp scholarship, 499 Old Timber Rd., Monticello, IL 61856.

Rupert Nelson Evans, 94, died April 24 at Meadowbrook Health Center at Clark-Lindsey, Urbana.  He taught at the U. of I. for 32 years, retiring in 1982. He served as the head of two departments and the dean of the College of Education, retiring in 1982. Memorials: Urbana Free Library Foundation, http://urbanafreelibrary.org/support-us/urbana-free-library-foundation; the U. of I. College of Education, https://education.illinois.edu/givenow.html; or the Clark-Lindsey Village Friendship Fund, clark-lindsey.com.  

Gilbert Pierce Haight Jr., 92, died April 27. Haight, a professor emeritus of chemistry, taught at the U. of I. for 23 years, retiring in 1987.

Allean Lemmon Hale, 100, died April 18 at Lenoir Woods Senior Living in Columbia, Missouri. She was an adjunct professor theatre at the U. of I. from 1996-97. Memorials: U. of I. Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, MC-386, http://giving.illinois.edu on behalf of the department of theatre. 

Saada Hamdy, 68, died April 21 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. She was a research chemist at the Illinois State Water Survey for 17 years, retiring in 2006. 

Willa Hollis, 74, died April 26 at her Champaign home. She worked in the department of astronomy at the U. of I. for many years. Memorials: Dr. Gilbert Hollis Memorial Scholarship Fund, U. of I. Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, MC-386, http://giving.illinois.edu.

Richard C. “Buzz” McNally, 49, died March 4 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. He was a cook at the U. of I. for University Housing from 1996 to 1999. Memorials: A memorial fund to help the family honor his memory, visit www.gofundme.com/o2ab9s or contact Mary Lehmann, maryemac79@gmail.com.

Frances Louise Sykes, 82, died April 14. She worked at the U. of I. for 34 years, retiring in 1998. She was a supervisor of data processing in the Survey Research Laboratory.

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