Richard R. Becker, 78

Services Saturday

Richard R. Becker, a longtime resident of Elmhurst, passed away on December 11, 2021 at the age of 78. He grew up in Chicago and enjoyed his summers out on the family farm with his aunt and uncle.  He graduated from Lane Tech high school and earned a master’s degree at Illinois Institute of Technology.  He went on to a successful career in electrical engineering at Northrop Grumman, achieving two patents.  He retired after 32 years to enjoy himself.

He was a member of the Skunk Hollow Ski Club where he met his wife of 49 years. Their travels to Budapest, Germany, Norway, and Alaska were some of their favorite adventures. He loved bird-watching and nourishing them in the many feeders he built from scratch. He loved to build, fix, and re-engineer things.

Beloved husband of Gwendolyn Becker for 49 years; loving father of Melenie Becker and Eric (Jamie) Becker; proud grandfather of Eli and Emmet; brother of Betty (Phil) Fogle, Kathy (Gary) Butterbaugh, and Lil Webb; and son of the late Richard E. and the late Edna Kollner Becker. He is also survived by a large extended family.

Visitation from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, at Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – The Ahlgrim Chapel, 567 S. Spring Road, Elmhurst. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 314 W. Vallette Street, Elmhurst. Interment at Elm Lawn Cemetery, Elmhurst. Info – 630-834-3515 or www.ElmhurstFH.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to any advocacy for Parkinson’s research.