Richard L. "Dixie" Alexander, 78, of Piper City, died at 8:23 a.m. Monday (April 19, 1993) at Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.
He was born July 22, 1914, in Grant Park, a son of Harry and Ada Zimmerman Alexander.
He married Helen K. Starr in 1941.
He later married Marilyn Kratina Paradies June 3, 1963. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Karen Fae Woods, Battle Creek, Mich., and Margaret "Meg" Alexander, Auburn; one son, Dr. Robert Scott Alexander, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; three stepsons, Mark Paradies, Knoxville, Tenn.; Louis Paradies, Normal; and Christopher Paradies, Troy, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and one half brother, Harry Alexander, Dunnigan, Calif.
He was preceded in death by an infant son.
Mr. Alexander attended Grant Park schools and graduated from Momence Community High School in 1932.
After working in construction and playing semi-professional baseball, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and later flew with the Royal Air Force (American Eagle Squadrons) in England.
Later, he was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps where he became an ace fighter pilot. His aircraft was shot down in 1944 and he finished World War II as a prisoner of war. He retired in 1948 with the rank of captain.
Mr. Alexander has served on the Piper City school board, Ford County health board, county and city planning commissions, and he was a village trustee.
He was currently a candidate for mayor of Piper City.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Fighter Aces, Eagle Squadron Association, Fourth Fighter Group, Second Fighter Squadron, Combat Pilots Association, Stalag Luft III ex-POWs, a charter member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame of Illinois, the Air Force Association, Sons of the American Revolution and the United Methodist Church.
He also wrote a book about his World War II experiences titled "They Call Me Dixie."
Pantagraph, The (Bloomington, IL) - Wednesday, April 21, 1993
He was born July 22, 1914, in Grant Park, a son of Harry and Ada Zimmerman Alexander.
He married Helen K. Starr in 1941.
He later married Marilyn Kratina Paradies June 3, 1963. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Karen Fae Woods, Battle Creek, Mich., and Margaret "Meg" Alexander, Auburn; one son, Dr. Robert Scott Alexander, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; three stepsons, Mark Paradies, Knoxville, Tenn.; Louis Paradies, Normal; and Christopher Paradies, Troy, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and one half brother, Harry Alexander, Dunnigan, Calif.
He was preceded in death by an infant son.
Mr. Alexander attended Grant Park schools and graduated from Momence Community High School in 1932.
After working in construction and playing semi-professional baseball, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and later flew with the Royal Air Force (American Eagle Squadrons) in England.
Later, he was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps where he became an ace fighter pilot. His aircraft was shot down in 1944 and he finished World War II as a prisoner of war. He retired in 1948 with the rank of captain.
Mr. Alexander has served on the Piper City school board, Ford County health board, county and city planning commissions, and he was a village trustee.
He was currently a candidate for mayor of Piper City.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Fighter Aces, Eagle Squadron Association, Fourth Fighter Group, Second Fighter Squadron, Combat Pilots Association, Stalag Luft III ex-POWs, a charter member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame of Illinois, the Air Force Association, Sons of the American Revolution and the United Methodist Church.
He also wrote a book about his World War II experiences titled "They Call Me Dixie."
Pantagraph, The (Bloomington, IL) - Wednesday, April 21, 1993
Richard L. "Dixie" Alexander, 78, of Piper City, died at 8:23 a.m. Monday (April 19, 1993) at Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.
He was born July 22, 1914, in Grant Park, a son of Harry and Ada Zimmerman Alexander.
He married Helen K. Starr in 1941.
He later married Marilyn Kratina Paradies June 3, 1963. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Karen Fae Woods, Battle Creek, Mich., and Margaret "Meg" Alexander, Auburn; one son, Dr. Robert Scott Alexander, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; three stepsons, Mark Paradies, Knoxville, Tenn.; Louis Paradies, Normal; and Christopher Paradies, Troy, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and one half brother, Harry Alexander, Dunnigan, Calif.
He was preceded in death by an infant son.
Mr. Alexander attended Grant Park schools and graduated from Momence Community High School in 1932.
After working in construction and playing semi-professional baseball, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and later flew with the Royal Air Force (American Eagle Squadrons) in England.
Later, he was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps where he became an ace fighter pilot. His aircraft was shot down in 1944 and he finished World War II as a prisoner of war. He retired in 1948 with the rank of captain.
Mr. Alexander has served on the Piper City school board, Ford County health board, county and city planning commissions, and he was a village trustee.
He was currently a candidate for mayor of Piper City.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Fighter Aces, Eagle Squadron Association, Fourth Fighter Group, Second Fighter Squadron, Combat Pilots Association, Stalag Luft III ex-POWs, a charter member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame of Illinois, the Air Force Association, Sons of the American Revolution and the United Methodist Church.
He also wrote a book about his World War II experiences titled "They Call Me Dixie."
Pantagraph, The (Bloomington, IL) - Wednesday, April 21, 1993
He was born July 22, 1914, in Grant Park, a son of Harry and Ada Zimmerman Alexander.
He married Helen K. Starr in 1941.
He later married Marilyn Kratina Paradies June 3, 1963. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Karen Fae Woods, Battle Creek, Mich., and Margaret "Meg" Alexander, Auburn; one son, Dr. Robert Scott Alexander, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; three stepsons, Mark Paradies, Knoxville, Tenn.; Louis Paradies, Normal; and Christopher Paradies, Troy, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and one half brother, Harry Alexander, Dunnigan, Calif.
He was preceded in death by an infant son.
Mr. Alexander attended Grant Park schools and graduated from Momence Community High School in 1932.
After working in construction and playing semi-professional baseball, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and later flew with the Royal Air Force (American Eagle Squadrons) in England.
Later, he was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps where he became an ace fighter pilot. His aircraft was shot down in 1944 and he finished World War II as a prisoner of war. He retired in 1948 with the rank of captain.
Mr. Alexander has served on the Piper City school board, Ford County health board, county and city planning commissions, and he was a village trustee.
He was currently a candidate for mayor of Piper City.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Fighter Aces, Eagle Squadron Association, Fourth Fighter Group, Second Fighter Squadron, Combat Pilots Association, Stalag Luft III ex-POWs, a charter member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame of Illinois, the Air Force Association, Sons of the American Revolution and the United Methodist Church.
He also wrote a book about his World War II experiences titled "They Call Me Dixie."
Pantagraph, The (Bloomington, IL) - Wednesday, April 21, 1993
Inscription
CAPTAIN USAF, RETIRED
133 EAGLE SQDN. W W II
AMERICAN FIGHTERS ACES ASSN.
COMBAT PILOTS ASSOCIATION
STALAG LUFT lll EX-POWS
AFA. MAHFl, SAR, VFW,
AMERICAN LEGION
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