Richard Edwards

August 15, 1931 - June 18, 2014

Richard W. Edwards died after a lengthy illness on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at the Victory Village retirement community in Lindenhurst, Illinois. He was born August 15, 1931 in Sullivan, Illinois, the son of Ralph E. and Ruth (Wilson) Edwards. The family moved to Streator, Illinois, where Richard (called Dick by his family and friends) attended elementary school and high school. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in the Teaching of Biological Sciences and General Science at the University of Illinois, graduating in 1953. Upon graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve and served as a supply officer at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. Following his tour of military service he returned to the University of Illinois to complete a master's degree in Biology and then began teaching high school biology in Skokie, Illinois. After a few years he accepted a teaching position at Highland Park High School where he taught for many years until his retirement. Dick was very fond of traveling and spent many of his summers combining travel and study to broaden the scope of his teaching in the biological sciences. He was particularly fond of regions in the far north and his travels took him to such places as Canada, Baffinland, Siberia and Greenland. He also spent some time at a U.S. Naval research station on an ice island in the Arctic Ocean. But most of all he was fond of traveling to Alaska and spent many summers exploring its remote corners in his truck camper. In retirement his travels eventually took him to five continents, including four trips to Antarctica. Richard is survived by his sister Nancy (Frederick) Littmann of Stevens Point,Wisconsin, his brother John (Margaret) Edwards of New Holland, Pennsylvania, and 6 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. A celebration of his life will be held at the Village at Victory Lakes, 1055 E. Grand Ave. Lindenhurst, IL 60046 on July 15, 2014, at 1:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Richard's name may be made to the Richard Edwards Scholarship Fund and sent to Daniel Venturi, 146 Cedar Avenue, P.O. Box 1107, Lake Villa, IL 60046. On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.ringafuneralhome.com.