Richard E. Walton

Richard E. Walton, 73, of Springfield, died on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at his residence. He was born April 10, 1944 on an Army Air Corps base in Childress, Texas, the son of Kendrick and Mary Catherine Walton. He married Mary Ellen OConnor on August 31, 1968. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Barbara Lynne. Mr. Walton graduated from Griffin High School in 1962 and earned both a bachelors and masters degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 1986 and 1991. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1962 to 1966 with a tour of duty in DaNang, Vietnam. He retired from the Springfield Police Department in 1994 after 23 years of service. During his police career, he held the ranks of patrolman, sergeant, commander, and deputy chief. He negotiated labor contracts for both union and management from 1978 to 1994. He also initiated and authored programs and policies establishing Community Policing, Field Training & Evaluation Program, Sergeants Training Program, Armed Robbery and Burglary Suppression Programs, Citizens Police Academy, and several others. He retired from the State of Illinois, Department of Human Services as an adjudicator after 17 years in 2012. He was a member of the American Legion Post 32, VFW Post 15014, Marine Corps League, past board member of the Police Benevolent and Protective Association, Unit #5 and the Illinois Police Association, and spent ten years as a volunteer Field Force Participant for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen of North Aurora, IL; three children, Jennifer Linke (husband, Robert) of St. Charles, IL, James Walton (wife, Jennifer) of Chicago, IL, and Andrew Walton (wife, Elizabeth) of Oak Park, IL; brothers, Mark of Springfield, Philip of Perrysburg, OH, and David (wife, Nancy) of Springfield; five grandchildren; one step-grandchild; and several nieces, nephews, and friends. Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2017 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th Street, Springfield. The visitation will begin with a prayer service. Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 6, 2017 at St. Aloysius Church, 2000 E. Sangamon Ave., Springfield, with Rev. Seth Brown, celebrant. Interment will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense. Memorial contributions may be made to the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County, 224 Twin Oaks, Rochester, IL 62563.