Col. (Ret.) Ivan Ray Specht, 78, of 1500 Hampton Road died at 7:20 a.m. on Monday, March 17, 2003 at Washington Christian Village.
He was born Feb 22, 1925, in Tyrone, to Clayton Craig and Ester Mingle Spacht.
He married Ruthe L. Flechsig on April 29, 1944 in Joplin, Mo. She survives.
Also surviving are one daghter, Ann Marree (Thomas) Anderson of Washington, and three sons, Dennis (Christine), of Spring Bay, Lee (Julie) and Jon (Wanda) both of Washington, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one sister Ruth Heaton of Tyrone.
A World War II Army Air Forces and Korean War Army veteran, he also served in the Army Reserve for 36 years attaining the rank of Colonel.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart. He was a member of the Reserve Officers Association, Retired Officers Association and the Mosquito Association.
He was a graduate of Bradley University and a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He taught at Woodruff High School in Peoria, Il., for 21 years.
He was a member of Joseph Robbins Lodge 930, AF&AM, Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria, and Mohammed Temple Shrine.
Inurnment of ashes will be at Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2211 N. Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, Il., 60707.
