Dr. Richmond E. Prentice
10/4/2001

Dr. Richmond E. Prentice, 74 of Pittsfield, Ill. died Monday, September 24, 2001 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Ill. He was born October 5, 1926 in Fountain Green, Ill. near Hancock County. He was the son of Alphens H. and Eliza M. Siepel Prentice. He married Mary Lea Ware on August 4, 1950 at Plymouth, Ill. She survives.

He graduated form Colchester High School in Colchester, Ill. in 1943. He received his B.S. in Education from Western Illinois University in 1954, a M.S. in Education form Western Illinois University in 1957, a 6th Year Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from Western Illinois University in 1967, and a Doctor of Education Degree from Indiana University in 1970. He also attended University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. He was a Seventh and Eighth Grade Teacher and Coach in Vermont, Ill. from 1946-1947, then he taught Seventh and Eighth and Coached in Hanna City, Ill. from 1947-1948. He became an Elementary Principal, Teacher, and Coach in Plymouth, Ill. from 1948-1955. He was an Elementary Supervisor at Community Unit District No. 5 in Streator, Ill. from 1955-1957. He was Elementary and High School Principal in Good Hope, Ill. from 1957-1959. He later was an Assistant Superintendent of Pittsfield Community Unit School District No. 10 in Pike County, Ill. from 1959-1964. In 1964 he became the Resident Supervisor/Regional Coordinator of Student Teaching and Associate Professor of Education at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. He was a member of the Board of Education in Pikeland Community Unit School District #10, National and Illinois Education Association, National and Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National and Illinois Association for Teacher Educators, American and Illinois Federation of Teachers, National School Public Relations Association, Phi Delta Kappa - Educational Honorary Fraternity at WIU in Macomb, Ill., American Association of School Administrators, Council for Basic Education, and Rural/Regional Education Association. He was a chairperson in the Two Rivers Division for Illinois Association of School Boards; an analyst - Clinical Strand for Illinois Administrator Academy; chairperson for Credentials Committee, National Association of Teacher Educators; President of Illinois Association of Teacher Educators; member of Advisory Board, Association of Teacher Educators Academy; member of Membership Committee, Illinois Association of Teacher Educators Academy; member of membership Committee, Illinois Association of Teacher Educators Academy; Past President of Association; Past President of Hancock County Schoolmasters Association; Past President of Hancock county Elementary Principals Association; member of Student Teaching Handbook Revision Committee at WIU Campus Chapter; Past Secretary-Treasurer of Phi Delta Kappa, WIU Campus Chapter; Past chairman of State Committee on Standard and Performance of the Illinois Association of Teacher Educators; member for 23 years, WIU Alumni council; member of National Commission of ATE for the Study of the Problems of Rural Education; past member of Department of Field Experiences Personnel Committee, WIU; past member of Scholarship Committee, WIU Chapter, Phi Delta Kappa; Past President of Illinois Association of Teacher Educators; Local Board of Education - Pikeland Unit 10 for 8 years; Chairperson, Two Rivers Division, Illinois Association of School Boards for 4 years; and a member of the State Board of Directors, Illinois Association of School Boards for 2 years. Dr. Prentice was a member of the Pittsfield First United Methodist Church; he was also a member of the Administrative Council; Chairman of Pastor Parish Relations Committee; Chairman of Finance Committee; served as Church Lay Leader; taught Samaritan Sunday School Class; and a member of the United Methodist Men. He also was a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Quail Unlimited; an avid quail, pheasant, goose, and deer hunter and was especially a Cardinals Baseball Fan.

Survivors include his wife Mary Lea Prentice of Pittsfield, Ill.; a son Rodney Prentice of Pittsfield, Ill.; a daughter Mrs. Steve (Gina) Rylander of Pittsfield, Ill.; a brother C. Paul Prentice of Macomb, Ill.; a sister Carrie E. Prentice of Spokane, Wash.; seven grandchildren; Ryan Prentice, Amy Prentice, Megan Prentice, Mrs. Chris (Erin) Verbeck, Kate Lagemann, Abby Lagemann, and Ty Rylander; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceded by two brothers; George and Vernon and two sisters; Ella Prentice and Elma Foster.

Funeral services were held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Pittsfield, Ill. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pittsfield, Ill. Family met with friends at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield, Ill. on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorials are to a Scholarship Fund established through Pittsfield High School for students going to Western Illinois University majoring in Education or to the Pittsfield United Methodist Church. Niebur Funeral Home is handling all arrangements.