Raymond C. Conklin, 77, of 31 County Lake Estates, Athens, Illinois, formerly of Easton, died Thursday, April 4, 1991, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.

Born November 6, 1913 in Kilbourne, Illinois to Leslie Ray and Flossie Charlotte Ade Conklin, he first married Helen Irene Simpson. They later divorced. He then married Rosalie Ringhouse on June 17, 1976. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, John of Murrayville and David of New Berlin, two daughters, Linda Conklin of Easton and Melanie Blane of Mason City, and two stepdaughters, Sandy Pottorf of Peoria and Tina Kern of Springfield.

Other survivors are seven sisters, Blanche Wahlfeld of Forest City, Evelyn Williamson of West Allis, Wisconsin, Nina Patrick of Bath, Floye Hughes of Kilbourne, Daisy Emmons of Alton, June Emmons of Cottage Hills and Patsy Kramer of Bloomington, four brothers, Lloyd of Havana, Homer of Rhineland, Wisconsin, Donald of Kilbourne and James of Petersburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Harold, and one sister, Winifred.

Mr. Conklin was a schoolteacher for 39 years in rural Mason, Kilbourne, San Jose and Easton. He was appointed superintendent of the Easton Unit in 1951 and served until retiring in 1974, during which time he also served as president of the Peoria Division of the Illinois Education Association, member of the board of the Tazewell-Mason Special Education Unit, charter member of the Easton Optimist club, a founder and active member of Illinois Association for Local Control of Schools and was active in many other associations related to education.

He was an Army veteran of World War II in the Pacific Theatre, holding the rank of staff sergeant. He received the Bronze Star for leading a reconnaissance party behind the Japanese lines.

Burial was in Easton Cemetery in Easton with military rites by Havana Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6408.

Hurley Funeral Home in Havana, Ill.