OBITUARY: Richard L. Maloney
Richard L. Maloney, age 83, lifelong resident and farmer of Ridgway, died peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in the Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi.
Richard was born on the family farm east of Ridgway on Dec. 1, 1931, to the late Daniel J. and Margaret (Luckett) Maloney. Richard attended Kane and Daily grade schools and then graduated Ridgway High School. He furthered his education obtaining a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois where he also joined the Air Force ROTC. After college he went to the Air Force during the Korean War and was an airplane pilot. On Jan. 29, 1955, he married Alice (Naas) Maloney who survives.
Richard was very kind hearted and was always looking out for others, especially the needy and underprivileged. He helped in a prison ministry for many years through his church. He was always very active in his county serving as a Gallatin County Board member for 20-plus years and acting as chairman most of his tenure. He served on the Ridgway school board, Banterra Bank Board, Shawnee FBFM Board, and was a trustee at St. Patrick's Church for many years. He also served in an advisory role for 4-H. His real passion was farming, owning and working the family business for many years before retiring in 1996. He was a faithful member of St. Patrick Church in Pond Settlement all of his life. He was a kind soul always being good to others, a great husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend and will be missed by the area.
Richard is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Alice (Naas) Maloney of Ridgway; two sons, Kevin (Kay) Maloney of Norris City, Michael (Tonya) Maloney of Ridgway; three daughters, Julie (Sonny) Shearer of Norris City, Maria Spahr of Ridgway and Angela (Mike) Knight of Pawnee; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; one brother, David (Frances) Maloney of Waverly, Ky.; three sisters, Mary Beth (Charles) Wargel of Equality, Corrine (Ted) Miller of Reston, Va., and Francis (Tony) Traweek of Tyler, Texas; special caregivers, Stella Feazel and Mary Jo Redick.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Shaun Maloney; a brother, Patrick (Doreen) Maloney; and a sister, Jean (Leonard) Heimann.
Visitation for Richard was 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at the Cox & Son Funeral Home in Ridgway where a prayer service started at 4 p.m. His funeral mass was 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at the St. Patrick's Chapel of St. Kateri Catholic Church in the Pond Settlement community east of Ridgway. Father Steven Beatty celebrated and interment followed in the church cemetery.
The family would also like to give thanks to Hospice of Southern Illinois and Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi for the wonderful care given to Richard. In lieu of flowers the family asks donations be made to the St. Kateri Building Fund, or the Hospice of Southern Illinois, or the Wabash Christian Retirement Center. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
You may leave a note of comfort to the family at www.coxandson.com