People

Ted E. Killingsworth, 91 of Rockford died Friday, July 26, 2013 in his home. Born June 28, 1922 in Ellenton, South Carolina, the son of Ted and Bertha Killingsworth.

He was an engineering graduate at Clemson University where he was a student council president and sang in the school musicals. Ted was a captain in the Air Force during World War II serving in the Philippines. Upon discharge he attended the University of Utah Law School. After working in the patent department in Washington, DC he joined a patent law firm (Intellectual Property) in Chicago until he joined Sundstrand Corporation in 1974 as their patent counsel and remained there until his retirement at age 70.

He loved his family and playing golf at Forest Hills Country Club. He served on committees at Court Street United Methodist Church and Wesley Willows Retirement Home.

Survivors include his wife, Jean of Rockford; children, Patrick (Patty) Killingsworth, John (Leslie) Munger, Margaret Killingsworth and Joan (Tim) Camper all of whom loved and respected him. He also leaves behind his six fabulous grandsons, Matt, Tom, Andy, Tim, Ted and Grant who adored him in return. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Leo and Alan.

In lieu of flowers memorials to Wesley Willows Good Samaritan Fund.

By Nancy Gier, Special to the Tribune

After stints as an attorney in both the public and private sectors, Alison O'Hara Barasa joined the family business and went on to become the first female chairman of Follett Corp. in its nearly 140-year history.

Mrs. Barasa joined Follett as senior counsel in 1999 and worked in litigation, contracts, employment and benefits. The company supplies educational materials to schools and is based in River Grove.

Mrs. Barasa became Follett's chairman in 2011 and gained a reputation as a catalyst for change and an innovator in moving the company forward in digital content and technology, despite battling breast cancer, colleagues said.

"Her tenure will be viewed as a pivot point in the company's next 140 years," said Mary Lee Schneider, Follett president and CEO.

Mrs. Barasa, 50, died of complications from breast cancer Saturday, July 20, at Midwest Palliative Care in Glenview, according to her husband, James Barasa. She was a resident of Glenview.

Schneider sat on Follett's board with Mrs. Barasa for more than 10 years.

"She pushed us to look at everything differently. She invited discussion and she felt that the best decisions were made through conversation," Schneider said. "She challenged how the family was involved with the business. There were no sacred cows with Alison."

Mrs. Barasa also served as Follett's acting president and CEO after her cousin Charles Follett retired in 2012. Schneider took over as president and CEO this year.

Harold B. Culley, Jr. passed away on Friday, July 26, 2013, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Illinois. He was born February 26, 1930, at the Lightner Hospital in Harrisburg, Illinois. He resided in Raleigh, Illinois.

He is survived by his wife Kitty Culley, his children David Culley, Mary Murphy, Linda Kotner, and John Culley, as well as step-children Tina Kuppart, Jo Nipper, and Britt Partain. 16 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. 2 half-brothers Roby Culley and George Culley.

After graduating from West Frankfort High School in 1947, Harold attended Clemson University where he graduated with a degree in engineering textiles. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was commissioned as a 1st Lt. During his military service he was a paratrooper jump instructor. Upon leaving the Armed Services he attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received his law degree in February, 1958.

Harold was admitted as a member of the Illinois Bar in May, 1958, and admitted as a member of the Georgia Bar in July, 1967. He was admitted to practice before the Appellate and Supreme Courts of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit as well as the United States Supreme Court.

Alliant Credit Union announces the appointment of Meredith Ritchie as Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer. For the past six years, Ritchie has served as Associate General Counsel for Alliant, an $8.2 billion credit union based in Chicago.

Ritchie graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and received her law degree from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. She has worked as a litigator in private practice and as a prosecutor, and subsequently served as deputy general counsel for an Illinois state agency. Ritchie also served as corporate counsel in Accenture’s State and Local Government practice.

Ritchie currently serves on the American Bar Association Credit Union Committee, the Alliant Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors and the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law. She is a former Director of the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation and previously chaired both the Young Lawyer’s Division and the Women in the Law Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association.