Barbara Drake Dickerman, 89, a longtime Springfield resident, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2017, in Northampton, MA, where she had moved last year.
Barbara was born May 28, 1927 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Fenton and Helen Moore Drake. She married Robert Dickerman on June 27, 1953 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Springfield. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage, family and extensive travel before Robert's death on Christmas Eve, 2011.
Barbara attended St. Joseph's School, Ursuline Academy, and graduated from Springfield High School. She also attended Springfield Junior College and later in life, earned her Bachelor's Degree from Sangamon State University.
Barbara pursued a lifetime of dedication to community and Church, starting with the Girl Scout troop at the John Hay Homes in the 1950s and continuing with the Junior League, Springfield Art Association, and Progress Circle of the King's Daughter Home. The 1970s and 1980s were dedicated to political activism, pursuing fair housing and civil rights with the League of Women Voters; Springfield Area Neighborhood Organization; the Springfield Housing Authority; the NAACP; and Move, Inc., a precursor to Habitat for Humanity. She worked tirelessly to keep the YWCA active and rarely missed a city council meeting. She was most proud of her involvement with the change of Springfield city government to its current aldermanic format. She was a longtime member of The Church of the Little Flower and then a member of The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, volunteering in several capacities.
In her later years, Barbara was employed as an admissions counselor with Sangamon State University and then with WSEC-TV. After retirement, she became involved with establishing the African American History Museum in Springfield and was a key contributor in obtaining National Register recognition for the former Lincoln Colored Home. Her services were widely recognized over the years including with the First Citizen Award, Springfield College Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Golden Rule Award, and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award. The Springfield NAACP honored her for over 50 years of dedication to civil rights.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Dr. Fenton Drake and James Drake; and sister, Mary Lee Dineen.
She is survived by her four sons, James (wife, Libby Rager) of New York, NY, Henry of Petersburg, IL, Robert (wife, Beth Crawford) of Haydenville, MA and Chris (wife, Serena Pelletier) of Sykesville, MD; five grandchildren, Noah, Alex, Lucy, Simon and Sophie Dickerman; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on March 16, 2017 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, Springfield. The visitation will begin with a prayer service.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017 at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence, Springfield, with Rev. Braden Maher officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Butler Funeral Homes and Cremation Tribute Center, Springfield, IL.
Barbara was born May 28, 1927 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Fenton and Helen Moore Drake. She married Robert Dickerman on June 27, 1953 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Springfield. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage, family and extensive travel before Robert's death on Christmas Eve, 2011.
Barbara attended St. Joseph's School, Ursuline Academy, and graduated from Springfield High School. She also attended Springfield Junior College and later in life, earned her Bachelor's Degree from Sangamon State University.
Barbara pursued a lifetime of dedication to community and Church, starting with the Girl Scout troop at the John Hay Homes in the 1950s and continuing with the Junior League, Springfield Art Association, and Progress Circle of the King's Daughter Home. The 1970s and 1980s were dedicated to political activism, pursuing fair housing and civil rights with the League of Women Voters; Springfield Area Neighborhood Organization; the Springfield Housing Authority; the NAACP; and Move, Inc., a precursor to Habitat for Humanity. She worked tirelessly to keep the YWCA active and rarely missed a city council meeting. She was most proud of her involvement with the change of Springfield city government to its current aldermanic format. She was a longtime member of The Church of the Little Flower and then a member of The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, volunteering in several capacities.
In her later years, Barbara was employed as an admissions counselor with Sangamon State University and then with WSEC-TV. After retirement, she became involved with establishing the African American History Museum in Springfield and was a key contributor in obtaining National Register recognition for the former Lincoln Colored Home. Her services were widely recognized over the years including with the First Citizen Award, Springfield College Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Golden Rule Award, and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award. The Springfield NAACP honored her for over 50 years of dedication to civil rights.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Dr. Fenton Drake and James Drake; and sister, Mary Lee Dineen.
She is survived by her four sons, James (wife, Libby Rager) of New York, NY, Henry of Petersburg, IL, Robert (wife, Beth Crawford) of Haydenville, MA and Chris (wife, Serena Pelletier) of Sykesville, MD; five grandchildren, Noah, Alex, Lucy, Simon and Sophie Dickerman; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on March 16, 2017 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, Springfield. The visitation will begin with a prayer service.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017 at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence, Springfield, with Rev. Braden Maher officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Butler Funeral Homes and Cremation Tribute Center, Springfield, IL.
Barbara Drake Dickerman, 89, a longtime Springfield resident, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2017, in Northampton, MA, where she had moved last year.
Barbara was born May 28, 1927 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Fenton and Helen Moore Drake. She married Robert Dickerman on June 27, 1953 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Springfield. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage, family and extensive travel before Robert's death on Christmas Eve, 2011.
Barbara attended St. Joseph's School, Ursuline Academy, and graduated from Springfield High School. She also attended Springfield Junior College and later in life, earned her Bachelor's Degree from Sangamon State University.
Barbara pursued a lifetime of dedication to community and Church, starting with the Girl Scout troop at the John Hay Homes in the 1950s and continuing with the Junior League, Springfield Art Association, and Progress Circle of the King's Daughter Home. The 1970s and 1980s were dedicated to political activism, pursuing fair housing and civil rights with the League of Women Voters; Springfield Area Neighborhood Organization; the Springfield Housing Authority; the NAACP; and Move, Inc., a precursor to Habitat for Humanity. She worked tirelessly to keep the YWCA active and rarely missed a city council meeting. She was most proud of her involvement with the change of Springfield city government to its current aldermanic format. She was a longtime member of The Church of the Little Flower and then a member of The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, volunteering in several capacities.
In her later years, Barbara was employed as an admissions counselor with Sangamon State University and then with WSEC-TV. After retirement, she became involved with establishing the African American History Museum in Springfield and was a key contributor in obtaining National Register recognition for the former Lincoln Colored Home. Her services were widely recognized over the years including with the First Citizen Award, Springfield College Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Golden Rule Award, and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award. The Springfield NAACP honored her for over 50 years of dedication to civil rights.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Dr. Fenton Drake and James Drake; and sister, Mary Lee Dineen.
She is survived by her four sons, James (wife, Libby Rager) of New York, NY, Henry of Petersburg, IL, Robert (wife, Beth Crawford) of Haydenville, MA and Chris (wife, Serena Pelletier) of Sykesville, MD; five grandchildren, Noah, Alex, Lucy, Simon and Sophie Dickerman; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on March 16, 2017 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, Springfield. The visitation will begin with a prayer service.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017 at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence, Springfield, with Rev. Braden Maher officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Butler Funeral Homes and Cremation Tribute Center, Springfield, IL.
Barbara was born May 28, 1927 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Fenton and Helen Moore Drake. She married Robert Dickerman on June 27, 1953 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Springfield. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage, family and extensive travel before Robert's death on Christmas Eve, 2011.
Barbara attended St. Joseph's School, Ursuline Academy, and graduated from Springfield High School. She also attended Springfield Junior College and later in life, earned her Bachelor's Degree from Sangamon State University.
Barbara pursued a lifetime of dedication to community and Church, starting with the Girl Scout troop at the John Hay Homes in the 1950s and continuing with the Junior League, Springfield Art Association, and Progress Circle of the King's Daughter Home. The 1970s and 1980s were dedicated to political activism, pursuing fair housing and civil rights with the League of Women Voters; Springfield Area Neighborhood Organization; the Springfield Housing Authority; the NAACP; and Move, Inc., a precursor to Habitat for Humanity. She worked tirelessly to keep the YWCA active and rarely missed a city council meeting. She was most proud of her involvement with the change of Springfield city government to its current aldermanic format. She was a longtime member of The Church of the Little Flower and then a member of The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, volunteering in several capacities.
In her later years, Barbara was employed as an admissions counselor with Sangamon State University and then with WSEC-TV. After retirement, she became involved with establishing the African American History Museum in Springfield and was a key contributor in obtaining National Register recognition for the former Lincoln Colored Home. Her services were widely recognized over the years including with the First Citizen Award, Springfield College Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Golden Rule Award, and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award. The Springfield NAACP honored her for over 50 years of dedication to civil rights.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Dr. Fenton Drake and James Drake; and sister, Mary Lee Dineen.
She is survived by her four sons, James (wife, Libby Rager) of New York, NY, Henry of Petersburg, IL, Robert (wife, Beth Crawford) of Haydenville, MA and Chris (wife, Serena Pelletier) of Sykesville, MD; five grandchildren, Noah, Alex, Lucy, Simon and Sophie Dickerman; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on March 16, 2017 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, Springfield. The visitation will begin with a prayer service.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017 at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence, Springfield, with Rev. Braden Maher officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Butler Funeral Homes and Cremation Tribute Center, Springfield, IL.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
