PENFIELD — Richard “Dick” Early, 96, of Penfield passed away Saturday morning (Aug. 24, 2024) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
He was born Dec. 4, 1927, at the family house in rural Penfield, a son of John and Rose (Silvers) Early. He married Sharon Sconce on Feb. 17, 1962, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Penfield. She survives.
Also surviving are a son, Harold (Mary Beth) Early of Champaign; five daughters, Linda Monroy of Penfield, Sandra Early of Paxton, Mary (Scott) Cropper of Alvin, Charlotte Early of Urbana and Valeria (Jason) Smith of Champaign; a sister, Barbara Overholt of Thomasboro; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by five brothers; three sisters; a son-inlaw, Augy Monroy; a son, John Russell Early; and a granddaughter, Jamie Monroy.
Dick was a graduate of Armstrong High School. He then entered the U.S. Army and served five years during the Korean War. He owned and operated the Gulf Service Station and The Oasis, both in Penfield. He then worked at Griders Truck Repair in Urbana as a mechanic. He retired from the University of Illinois in 2002 from the car pool.
He was a member of the Penfield American Legion for over 60 years. He was a lifelong member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
Dick dearly loved his family.
A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Lawrence Church. Burial will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 Tuesday evening at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul.
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