Lawrence Paul Eggleston

STERLING – Lawrence “Larry” Paul Eggleston, 84, of Sterling, died Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Rock River Hospice and Home surrounded by his wife and children.

Larry’s faith in Christ and love of his family was evident to the end. He was involved all of his life in the church, serving as an elder, officer, and member of the choir.

He was born Oct. 13, 1933 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, to the late Sylvia and Wilbur Eggleston.

He graduated from Schurz High School in 1952, Wright Jr. College in 1954, and Northern Illinois College, where he served as editor-in-chief of the yearbook, with a Bachelor of Science degree in English in 1956. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Master of Science in education in 1965, and from the University of Illinois with an advanced certificate in school administration in 1973.

Lawrence served in the Army Security Agency as a linguistic specialist in Chinese Mandarin from 1956 to 1959. He traveled extensively in the Far East during his years of service.

Lawrence was a school administrator from 1959 to 2001. He began his career in Antioch as Dean of Boys and high school English teacher from 1959 to 1966. He then served as principal at Momence from 1966- 1969, and as principal and then superintendent at Paxton from 1969 to 1976.

He moved his family to Walnut, and was superintendent of schools from 1976 to 1991. He was assistant superintendent for Bureau County Educational Service Region from 1991 to 1993 and then “retired.”

After his first retirement, Lawrence was superintendent of schools at Orangeville Community School District and then Morrison Community Unit School District.

After his last “retirement”, Lawrence worked in a “volunteer” capacity for Christ Lutheran School as interim principal.

Lawrence enjoyed fishing, reading, music (vocal), spending time with family and Chicago Cubs baseball. He was an elder at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sterling and loved to sing in the choir. He was a volunteer at Rotary Club (22 years) and Chamber of Commerce, and was involved at Illinois Association of School Administrators and The School Superintendents Association (AASA).

He is survived by his beloved wife Joan Eggleston; by his son, James (Denice) Eggleston; daughters, Mary (Thomas) Mably, Jennifer (Robert) Drayton, and Catherine “Kiki” (Gregg) Backoff; his brother, David (Elaine) Eggleston; his sister, Sally (Roy) Sove; grandchildren Jami (Jon) Fritz, Elizabeth Mably, Nicholas (Elizabeth) Drayton, Joshua (Rayne) Eggleston, Benjamin Drayton, Samantha Backoff, and Emma Backoff; and great-grandchildren Alexys, Quinn, and Theodore.

He was preceded in death by his son, Carl Frederick Eggleston, and brother William Eggleston.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Ave. in Rock Falls, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sterling, where the funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Oak Knoll Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church (Christian education) or Rock River Hospice and Home.

Visit mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com to send condolences.