Richard H. "Dick" Lyford

Richard H. Lyford, 98, of Rockford passed from the loving arms of his family into the loving arms of the Lord on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Wesley Willows Health Center. Born April 6, 1916, in Rockford, the son of Harry and Olive (Tunison) Lyford. Dick loved sports and played football at Rockford High School, where he graduated from in 1935. Dick married Ruth Charlotte Getts on June 19, 1937. He owned Haines and Lyford Office Equipment Company, retiring in 1980. He served as a 9th Ward Alderman from 1959 until 1969 and during this time he assisted in the passage of the drainage bond issue which helped eliminate flooding in the city, primarily in the 9th Ward. Dick was a member of the Lions Club and the Moose Lodge as well as the YMCA Retired Men’s Club. He shared many fond memories with his family at their summer home in Lake Mills, Wisconsin during the 1950s.
Survived by his daughters, Diane (Curt) Repka of Rockford, Sandra (Phil) De Leon of Oneida, Wisconsin and Joanne (Bill) Hoffman of Roscoe; grandchildren, Tom (Dawn) Kast, Tammy (Bob) White, Tracey Kast, Tim (Kelsey) Kast, Steve Repka, Kristi (Tom) Kanabrocki, Amy (Michael) Whalen and Jenni Hoffman; great-grandchildren, Nate, Emily, Clay, Grif, Matt, Katie, Ellen, Michael, Anna, Peter, Logan, Liam and Landon. Predeceased by his wife, Ruth, his brothers, Owen Lyford and Paul Lyford and his sisters, Clara Andersen, Florence Becknell, Marian Cameron and Evelyn Yasko.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1829 North Rockton Avenue. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 North Rockton Avenue and will continue on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery. To express online condolences, please visit: www.fitzgeraldfh.com.