Bill Text: IL SR1854 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the deaths of John and Reta Dowling of Watseka.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-11-15 - Resolution Adopted [SR1854 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR1854-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the deaths of John R. and Reta A. Dowling of Watseka,
who both passed away on June 17, 2018; and
WHEREAS, John Dowling was born in Murrayville to John W.
and Hattie Mae (Cooper) Dowling on August 20, 1933; Reta
Dowling was born in Danville to Myron R. and Blanche H.
(McGahan) Miller on January 6, 1934; John served in the United
States Army Reserve during the Korean War; he and Rita were
married in Danville on January 28, 1955; John received his
Bachelor of Science in History from Eastern Illinois University
and his Master of Science in Educational Administration from
Illinois State University; and
WHEREAS, John Dowling started teaching and coaching in
Armstrong in 1955; he then continued at Crescent-Iroquois High
School from 1959 to 1963; in 1963, he joined the Watseka High
School teaching staff, where he also served as principal for 12
years, ending in 1984; he then became the grade school
principal at both Wanda Kendall and Nettie Davis elementary
schools; he also served as acting superintendent for a short
time; he was awarded Iroquois County Teacher of the Year in
1968; he was an active member of the IHSA Board of Directors,
where he was a past-president; he was also a member of the

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Iroquois County Board and served as the Middleport Township
Supervisor; and
WHEREAS, Reta Dowling started teaching in Bismarck Grade
School, and later at Crescent City Grade School and Glenn
Raymond Junior High School; she graduated from Illinois State
University in 1969 with her Bachelor of Science in Education
and started in the art department at Watseka Community High
School that same year; she also co-owned and taught at the Pied
Piper and Building Blocks Preschool; she went on to teach 4-H
students for many years; and
WHEREAS, John Dowling served as an Iroquois County
Republican Precinct Committeeman and with the Ford-Iroquois
Board of Health, the Watseka Library Board, and the I-KAN Joint
Education Committee; and
WHEREAS, Reta Dowling served as president of the Iroquois
Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and was also a member of the boards
for the Iroquois Mental Health Association, the Watseka Bridge
Club, and the Iroquois County Republican Women; and
WHEREAS, John Dowling was awarded Watseka Area Citizen of
the Year in 1989; he was a frequent volunteer at Iroquois
Memorial Hospital and helped organize the annual hospice brunch
for many years; he was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement

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Award from the Watseka community; he was a member of the
Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, John Dowling enjoyed history and was a lifelong
St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan; he had a love for baseball,
starting with being a batboy for the Dodgers minor league team
in Danville; he authored a book on the history of the Three-I
League, which is in the library of the Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown, New York; talking baseball and being an advocate
for Iroquois County and Watseka were some of his greatest
passions; and
WHEREAS, Reta Dowling enjoyed ceramics and was a
watercolorist; she was a former Iroquois County 4-H judge and
was a blue ribbon winner for her angel food cakes; she was
always taking on a new project, whether it was framing pictures
for friends, making pies for the Gooseberry Festival, or
immersing herself in her grandchildren's latest school
project; she was the official costume maker for all of her
children and grandchildren, and inspired them all to bring
creativity into their lives; Reta also sang with the Iroquois
County Cantata Choir; and
WHEREAS, John and Reta Dowling were active members of the
First Presbyterian Church in Watseka; they traveled all over
the world, usually with friends and family and always made new

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friends along the way; St. Louis Cardinals spring training was
one of their favorite places; they were both avid readers and
loved spending time with their grandchildren, playing games
with them and attending their activities; and
WHEREAS, John Dowling was preceded in death by his parents;
Reta Dowling was preceded in death by her parents and her
brother, Fred Miller; and
WHEREAS, John and Reta Dowling are survived by their sons,
Michael (Kathy) Dowling, David (Kathy) Dowling, and Robert
(Kary) Dowling; their grandchildren, William Dowling, Laura
Dowling, Chris Dowling, Elizabeth Dowling, Kelsey Dowling,
Jori Dowling, and Mason Dowling; and their nieces, Susan
(Miller) Bruner and Sonja Miller; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
John R. and Reta A. Dowling, and extend our sincere condolences
to their family, friends, and all who knew and loved them; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of John and Reta Dowling as an
expression of our deepest sympathy.