Robert Joseph Illidge
April 1, 2005
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Illidge, Robert Joseph, 74, retired journalism professor, University of Central Oklahoma, died Friday, April 1, 2005. Rosary 7:00 P.M. Monday, Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Service 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Robert also taught at Newman University, Friends University and Wichita State University. He was vice president at Associated Advertising Agency. Survivors: wife, Elizabeth (Genser) Illidge; sons, Robert Illidge, Jr. (Alicia) and Andrew Illidge; daughters, Sarah Pirtle (James), Fran Gaulding (Randy) and Elizabeth Marie Garrett (Brian) all of Wichita; sister, Helen Howard (Bill) of Springfield, MO; sixteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. A memorial has been established with Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul Society, 124 N. Roosevelt, Wichita, KS, 67208.
Rosary 7:00 P.M., Monday, Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
Professor Illidge was one of my favorite professors. I went back to school at the Univeristy of Central Oklahoma to complete my education after working several years in the business world. When I returned to campus in August 2003, Professor Illidge was one of my first teachers. I am a Public Relations major, but I took most of my electives in Advertising. This was because after taking Professor Illidge for Introduction to Advertising, I wanted to learn more. I learned so much about advertising from him. He had a special way of teaching and sharing ‘real-life’ stories. He was a great professor and a wonderful person. He will be missed. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
Andrew & Family Please know the Comforter is at your side, remember… ‘God Himself will be with them; He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.’ Revelation 21:3-4 With Love & Prayers ~
I learned so much from Dr. Illidge and I am so grateful that he was one of my professor for I know the tools he gave me will allow me to succeed in everything I do.
I was very lucky to have known Robert Illidge while attending the University of Central Oklahoma. He had a great knowledge of the advertising field, but more importantly he had a great understanding of people and how they should be treated. I really enjoyed his energy and his enthusiasm for life and know that he will be missed.
Every once in a while you meet a teacher that makes a lasting impression on you. Professor Illidge was that teacher. Through him, I saw the importance of treating people fairly but with compassion in the classroom, that good ideas sometimes require an ‘overnight test’ and when an idea is right ‘itll make your socks roll up and down’. My classmates and I called these ‘Illidge-isms’ and we loved every one of them. He expected the best and I gave him my best. Not necessarily, for a grade, but out of respect for him. I am fortunate to have learned from him both in and outside of the classroom. He was a gifted teacher and a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends. Christopher Hayes
I just wanted to say that Mr. Illidge will be truly missed. I was one of his students and he taught me alot of things that I will remember the rest of my life. I am very sorry for your loss, I hope that you know what he meant to all of his students also.