Ron Savitch

WYANET — Ronald L. Savitch, 78, of 11532 Backbone Road, rural Wyanet, formerly of 108 W. First St., Spring Valley, died at 9:52 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton.

He was born Aug. 10, 1933, in Spring Valley to Joseph and Mary (Urban) Savitch. He married Nancy Burns on Sept. 22, 1956, in Jerseyville. She died May 1, 1998. He then married Dorie Jean Schlouski Hoffman on Feb. 14, 2004, with whom he shared fond companionship with and many trips to the boat.

In 1957 he was part of opening and operating Rice Elevator in Spring Valley, he then managed Central Soya Elevator, followed by Continental Grain Elevator until retiring in 1999 after 42 years. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Spring Valley and the Rice River Boys, was a Spring Valley fireman from the mid-60s to the mid-80s, served as the Spring Valley Civil Defense director and was a 1951 graduate of Hall High School. He was a Korean War Army veteran from 1953 to 1955 in the infantry and then military police highlighted by a personal security escort for Marilyn Monroe.

Surviving are his wife, Dorie Jean Hoffmann Savitch of rural Wyanet; two sons, Richard (Lisa) Savitch of Spring Valley and David (Bernadette) Savitch of Spring Valley; three grandchildren, Gertrude, John and Caleb; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy; five brothers, Joseph, William and Raymond, and Peter and Paul at birth; one sister, Della Barto; and his K-9 companions, Tootsie, Farrah and Ripley.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Barto Funeral Home, Spring Valley, and a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Spring Valley, with the Rev. Robert Spilman officiating. Burial will be in Valley Memorial Park, Spring Valley, with military graveside rites conducted by the Ladd and Spring Valley legions.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with an American Legion service at 6 p.m.

The online guestbook is available at bartofh.com.