Richard Evans "Dick" Mann

WINCHESTER - Richard Evans "Dick" Mann died March 20, 2016, at Passavant Hospital in Jacksonville.

Dick was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Jacksonville, the son of Roberts and Lecie Evans Mann. He grew up in Winchester, where he lived until his death. As a child he and his mother, with sisters Jean and Priscilla, lived with their "Granddad" and "Gram," Robert Monroe and Ida Belle (Priest) Evans. Dick attended Winchester schools and graduated from Winchester High School in 1939. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in 1943.

Dick enlisted in the Army Air Corps on June 17, 1943, and served in the Pacific theater during World War II, attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant. He was an aerial observer and specialty navigator on B-25 "Mitchell" and B-24 "Liberator" bombers, with 1,100 hours of navigation experience. Flying 46 missions, he earned six battle stars and a four oak leaf cluster. On one occasion severe damage to the aircraft necessitated an emergency landing. Several times when his aircraft became separated from the bomber group he navigated safely to home base.

Dick married Theodosia "Dosia" Ross on June 17, 1943, in Alton. She predeceased him in 2007. Dick and Dosia had five children: Theodosia (Dr. Norman Evans) of Roanoke, Virginia; Kristin (Steven Tipton) of Decatur, Georgia; Richard Ross (Sharon) of Schuyler County; Kathryn (Paul Herring) of Winchester; and William (Cathy) of Leesburg, Virginia; all of whom survive. They are survived by 11 grandchildren: Marcus (Sarka) Cade, Lecie Brannan; Rachel (Joseph Fear), William (Ryland), and James (Soojung) Herring; Paul (Sara), Richard Hawkins, and Phillip Mann; Alexander and Liam Mann; and Evan Tipton; as well as 13 great-grandchildren. Dick's sisters Jean Williams of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and Perri Bell of Carrollton, Texas, also survive; with numerous nieces and nephews.

Following discharge from military service in October 1945, Dick enrolled in the University of Illinois College of Law, earning his J.D. degree in 1947. He practiced law in Winchester for 64 years, retiring in 2012 after a distinguished career. He served as Scott County State's Attorney from 1948 to 1960, and was elected circuit judge of Scott County in 1980, retiring in 1988. Judge Mann was known for his fairness, wit, and common sense.

Dick was a member of Julian Wells Post 442 of the American Legion and was a life member of Pioneer Lodge 70 of the IOOF. A Civil War buff, he participated in the Civil War round table as well as a research forum in his younger years. Dick was an avid reader and a lover of jazz music, especially "big band" and "boogie woogie." He swam for exercise and liked to ride his bicycle down the Glasgow lane for lunch at Starr's. Dick enjoyed travel, especially to Great Britain and Costa Rica. The love of his life, after Dosia, was his sailboat, Shyster.

Dick was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Griggsville, and later Trinity Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. In his last years he often attended Winchester United Methodist Church.

The funeral service for Judge Mann will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity Episcopal Church, followed by interment with military honors at Winchester City Cemetery at 3 p.m. Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Coonrod Funeral Home in Winchester. Memorials are suggested to the Scott County Court House (window restoration fund), the Winchester Swimming Pool, or the Winchester Public Library.

Judge Mann's family would like to thank the good people of Winchester for looking out for him in his final years as he motored down the middle of the street on his scooter and held "court" in the shadow of Stephen A. Douglas on his bench in the town square. Condolences may be sent to the family at airsman-hires.com. The Coonrod Funeral Home in Winchester is in charge of the arrangements.