Dr. Victor J. Rich

Dr. Victor J. Rich, 87, of Galesburg, passed away at 6:45 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2015 in Marigold Health Care Center.

He was born on a farm near Gridley, Illinois the son of Theodore S. and Hilda (Gramm) Rich. He married Helen Jeanne McCullough on November 27, 1947.

He is survived by his wife of over 67 years, Jeanne; three children, V. Jim (and Cynthia) Rich of Galesburg, Susan (and Mike) McMillen of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Andrew Rich of Chester, Illinois; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1946 as a Corpsman with duty at the Great Lakes Naval Station Hospital.

He graduated from Gridley High School and earned his B.S. and M.S. from Illinois State University.

He taught science and served as the Junior High School Principal in Abingdon, Illinois from 1950 to 1962. During this time, he initiated a Science Club for the students, many of which took their projects to the State meetings in Urbana, Illinois.

He received a scholarship to study science at Michigan State University in 1962. It was there that he studied and received his Doctorate in Education degree in 1967.

He became a professor for Western Illinois University from 1963 to 1989. His work was off-campus in the Quad Cities, where he supervised student teachers and taught at the Graduate Center of Augustana College. During his time there, he helped organize the Illinois Association of Teacher Educators, serving as the first president and developing the by-laws.

During two sabbaticals, he studied “Non Verbal Communications” at Purdue University and Arizona State University. He developed a very popular course while there called “Non Verbal Communications”. Many teachers and Quad City residents enjoyed this course, which he taught for Western Illinois University.

In 1983, Victor and his wife, Jeanne, volunteered for the United Board for Christian Ministries and worked in the Philippines. Victor taught education courses at Silliman University, Dumagete City, Negros Oriental. He returned for nine summers and spent a school year there in 1989-1990. His final year there was 1992.

In 2006, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the College of Education at Illinois State University.

Cremation will be accorded. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. Memorial service will follow the visitation at 11 a.m. Pastor Mary Runge will officiate. Burial will be in the Gridley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.