The Honorable Ralph Stewart Pearman, 92, passed away peacefully at his home on November 20, 2021.

Judge Pearman was born August 1, 1929, in Paris, Illinois, son of the late Ralph D. and Louise (Lycan) Pearman. He graduated Paris High School in 1947, University of Illinois in 1951 and University of Illinois School of Law in 1953. Ralph then served in the US Army Reserve as a 1st lieutenant assigned to the Army Intelligence Corps in Baltimore, MD and Boston, MA during the Korean Conflict.

After military service, Ralph returned to Paris, Illinois where he joined the Massey, Anderson, Gibson law firm and soon became partner. He served as Edgar County State’s Attorney from 1960 through1964 and was appointed as an Illinois circuit judge in 1972. He was later elected to the Fifth Judicial Circuit bench and served as Chief Judge of the circuit from 1976 until his retirement in 1998.

In 1956, Ralph met Mary Ann Mattingly at a dance at the Paris American Legion and they married in 1957. They celebrated nearly 59 years of marriage before Mary Ann’s passing in January 2016. Ralph is survived by their six children: Mary Ann (Pearman) Coombe of Bonita Springs, FL, Matt Pearman of St. Louis, MO, Julie (Pearman) Blanford of Savannah, GA, Susan (Pearman) Arp of Paris, IL, Kay D. (Pearman) Holloway of Paris, IL, and John Pearman of Lake Geneva, WI, as well as 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A life-long resident of Paris, Judge Pearman served on the Board of Directors for Eastern Illinois Mental Health Association, Paris YMCA, Edgar County Mental Health Association, City of Paris Board of Fire & Police Commissioners, and Edgar County Housing Authority Arbitration Panel. He was a member of Paris Kiwanis Club, Sycamore Hills Country Club, and among the founding members of the Paddle Club.

Ralph’s family and friends remember him as an avid golfer and die-hard Cubs, Bears, and Illini fan with a quick wit and dry humor. He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather who supported and took pride in the accomplishments of his family. Marco Island, Florida, was his winter home for thirty-nine years. In addition to enjoying golf, pool time, and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico with a large network of fellow snowbird friends, he served as president of the condominium homeowners association for many years.