Robert Randall ’52 of Gilman, Illinois, died May 5, 2021. He was 91. Robert studied business administration at Illinois Wesleyan. After graduation, he served in the United States Marines during the Korean War. Upon his return, he married his wife, and they later moved to Gilman, where they owned and operated the Ben Franklin store until it closed in 2006. He is survived by many extended family members.
Alma (Alexander) Somerville ’49 of Peoria, Illinois, died Feb. 26, 2021. Alma studied music at Illinois Wesleyan, where she was a drum majorette and active in Delta Omicron. She went on to a career as a singer, music teacher and choir director at Forrest Hill United Methodist Church of Peoria. She sang with the Peoria Philharmonic Chorale and was a soloist for the Christian Science Church. Alma and her late husband Ross Somerville ’51 lived in Bloomington, Illinois; St. Louis; Peoria; Las Vegas; Champaign, Illinois; and Belvidere, Illinois. In Las Vegas, she sang at UNLV with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society and University United Methodist Church Choir. Alma also worked in several retail stores, retiring from Carson Pirie Scott in Urbana, Illinois, in 1986. She was an avid reader and painter, and enjoyed time spent with her family. She is survived by two children, including Susie (Somerville) Brown ’79, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Allan Horsman ’58 of Bloomington, Illinois, died May 20, 2021. He was 85. Allan majored in business administration at Illinois Wesleyan and went on to a career as finance director for the City of Bloomington. He was a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal church in Bloomington, as well as the Wade Barney Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite Consistory. He was active in IWU’s Pride Alumni Community. Allan enjoyed classical music and opera, and wintering in Florida. He will be remembered for his kindness and will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his partner.
Carol (Fulk) Hunt ’52 of Ludington, Michigan, died April 7, 2021. She was 90.
Carol attended Michigan State University before transferring and graduating from Illinois Wesleyan. She both attended college and worked full-time while raising four children. As a teacher, she was known for being kind and nurturing, but also able to instill discipline in her students. She was active in her church, and loved her dogs and family homes and cottages in Michigan, Florida and North Carolina. She is survived by her husband, four children, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
You can read the full obituary here.
June Yolton Cusey McClister ’49 died in February 2020. She was 93.
June was a member of the IWU class of 1949. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. She is survived by her son (Phillip Cusey), daughter-in-law (Melissa) and 2 grand children.
Ida B. Gray ’58 passed away on April 3, 2021. Please see the full obituary here.
Robert Joiner ’53 of Warrenton, Oregon, died March 19, 2021. He was 89. Bob attended Illinois Wesleyan on a euphonium scholarship, and was active in Phi Mu Alpha and Blue Key Honor Society. He later learned to play the trombone so he could play in jazz clubs. Bob joined the U.S. Army after his IWU graduation, and was stationed with the Seventh Army Symphony in Germany, where he directed a radio show and wrote the arrangements for singers and masters of ceremonies. Upon his return stateside, he completed work on a master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bob was a highly sought-after musician and teacher, and he played in many bands. He also was a stock broker and salesman of musical instruments. He is survived by his wife, daughter, two stepchildren, several grandchildren and a great-grandson.
You can read the full obituary here.
Dana (Johnson) Brown ’59 of Bloomington, Illinois, died Jan. 31, 2021. She was 83. Dana studied Spanish and history at Illinois Wesleyan, where she also met her husband Wayne Brown ’60. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, Egas Senior Women’s Honorary Society and Mortar Board National Collegiate Honor Society at IWU. Dana enjoyed golf, tennis and traveling, especially to Sanibel Island, Florida, where her family vacationed regularly. She and her husband later spent many years at their winter home at Kelly Greens Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida, where Dana was a member of the club’s traveling golf and tennis teams. Dana was also a member of Crestwicke Country Club in Bloomington, and the Crestwicke Women’s Golf Association. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Normal, Illinois. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
You can read the full obituary here.
Mary (Fulkerson) Hopper ’59 of Orange City, Florida, died Feb. 7, 2021. She was 83. Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Illinois Wesleyan, where she was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Kappa Gamma. She also learned to play bridge at IWU, an activity she enjoyed her entire life. Mary taught at Lavallette (New Jersey) Elementary School and Tuckerton (New Jersey) Elementary School. She was active in religious life as a member of The Great Outdoors Church in Titusville, Florida, and Tuckerton United Methodist Church in New Jersey. She and her late husband enjoyed traveling, touring the country in their RV. She is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and extended family members and friends.
You can read the full obituary here.
Phyllis (Owen) Naccarato ‘59 of Hinsdale, Illinois, died July 24, 2020. She was 82. Phyllis studied sociology, psychology, and English literature at Illinois Wesleyan. She was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She spent her career in social work and touched the lives of many children. Aside from being a fan of her grandchildren’s athletic teams, she was an avid Chicago sports fan. She was known for her dry humor and wit, along with her grace and style. She is survived by her husband, two children, and five grandchildren.