OBITUARIES
1942
Ralph Graham Jr., 98, of Quincy, Ill., died Sept. 15, 2018. He graduated with a degree in chemistry and was a member of Theta Chi. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he began a 40-year career with Frank Chatten Apple Orchards, which eventually became Graham Orchards. The College’s Graham Hall was named after his father, Dr. Ralph Graham (1897), and his grandfather, Professor Russell Graham (1870). He was also preceded in death by his wife, Constance Chatten Graham ’42. Peggy Walworth Hafner, 97, of Lake Bluff, Ill., died July 9, 2018. An English major, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois. She worked as an elementary teacher in a two-room school, as a cartographer during World War II, as a field adviser for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, and as a researcher for Clark Associates.
1943
Ethel Burrill Boostrom, 97, of Monmouth, died Oct. 26, 2018. An English major, she held a variety of jobs, starting with “Rosie the Riveter” work during World War II while her husband flew bombers in England. She also farmed with her husband and, among other positions in Monmouth, served 15 years as deputy county clerk. She and her late husband were married more than 50 years. All three of their children attended Monmouth—Deborah Boostrom Fuess ’69, Rusty Boostrom ’77 and Carolyn Boostrom Ault ’81—as did two of their grandchildren—April Ault Young ’90 and Amy Ault Glenn ’08. Barbara Fleming Harris, 96, of Canton, Ill., died Sept. 1, 2018. She graduated with a degree in music and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Harris was a fourth-grade teacher in Canton for many years, retiring in 1985. She was preceded in death by a brother, David Fleming ’46. Survivors include her husband of 67 years.
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MONMOUTH COLLEGE MAGAZINE
1944
Clifford Davenport, 95, of Galena, Ill., died July 2, 2018. He left college in 1941 to work for Illinois Bell Telephone Company, and he worked there for 41 years, the last 25 as wire chief and commercial manager of the exchange in Galena. Davenport served in the Marines from 1942-46, stationed in the Pacific theater. He was a city council member in Galena for 13 years and was very active in other organizations in the town he called home for 72 years. Ruth Oliver Larson, 95, of Arvada, Colo., died June 21, 2018. A member of Alpha Xi Delta, she studied elementary education and taught briefly. After raising a family, she was an auditor at the Air Force Finance Center. She and her husband traveled widely and she remained active in her Alpha Xi Delta alumnae group, attending a function last spring.
originally built by his great-grandfather. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Mary Lou Rinker Allaman ’49.
1950
Dennis McDade, 89, of Greenwich, Conn., died Oct. 20, 2018. He graduated with a degree in physics and was a member of the swim team. McDade began working for Price Waterhouse in Chicago in 1956 and, 10 years later, he was a partner in the company’s Buffalo office. By 1981, he was a partner in the New York office. McDade also worked in London for eight years for Chase Manhattan Bank. Joyce Chatten McKinley, 90, of Quincy, Ill., died Oct. 2, 2018. She graduated with a degree in Spanish and was a member of Alpa Xi Delta. McKinley earned a master’s degree at Western Illinois University and taught for 30 years, including 28 at Quincy Senior High School. Survivors include her husband, Donald McKinley ’50. Lillian Smith, 92, of Kewanee, Ill., died May 23, 2018. She graduated with a degree in physics and taught math and science in East Moline, Ill.
1951
Gerald Boelke, 89, of Monroe, Wis., died Sept. 22, 2018. A member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, he graduated with a degree in sociology, then served in the Air Force for four years. Boelke was a personnel and human resources director at three companies in Chicago, retiring in 1992. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Susan Barrett Boelke ’53.
1946
John Allaman, 94, of Rozetta, Ill, died July 18, 2018. He was a member of Theta Chi. Prior to attending Monmouth, he was a corporal in the Army during World War II, stationed in Algeria and Italy. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois, studying agriculture. Allaman was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer in Rozetta. Active in the community, he was part of reconstructing the historic Henderson County Covered Bridge, which was
Edythe Schmucker Gray of Olympia, Wash., died July 27, 2018. She graduated with a degree in history and was a member of Kappa Delta. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Gray ’51. Marcia Hickok Johnson, 88, of New Windsor, Ill., died Aug. 14, 2018. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta. Johnson worked for the Winola and Sherrard school districts and, with her husband, owned and operated the New Windsor Car Wash for 44 years. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Bryant Luxmore ’09.
