William Hughes Diller, Jr

Mr. Diller was born July 15, 1916, in Springfield, Illinois. He was the son of William Hughes Diller, Sr and Corine Payne Diller.

Mr. Diller graduated from Springfield High School, St. Louis County Day College Prep School and attended two years at Yale University and was a graduate of Grinnel University.

Mr. Diller was a United States Army Veteran of World War II, serving in the Field Artillery and served in Germany in the European Theater of Operations. He received the good conduct medal, American defense service medal and the American campaign medal.

Mr. Diller was a lifelong member and the longest living member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as Deacon and Elder. He has been a member of the local, State and National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) since 1942. He served as an officer in the Springfield SARS Chapter and was honored in 2006 at the National SAR Convention held in Chicago with the 65 Year Membership Award. In 1980 he was awarded the Silver Good Citizenship Medal by the Illinois Society. In late August, 1983, he along with over 100 compatriots from across the country flew to Paris to participate in week-long events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Paris, which concluded the Revolutionary War. Mr. Diller served as President from 1986 to 1987 and was appointed the Honorary Director and held several offices of the Sanagamon County Historical Society. He was a charter member of the Texas Jack Society, President of the Civil War Round Table, and served as President of the Evening Etude Society, Toastmaster, Abraham Lincoln Association , the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Council of World Affairs.

Mr. Diller was an avid reader of Historical books especially interested in the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln era.

Mr. Diller donated many historical books and other artifacts to universities and other historical organizations including the donation of President Abraham Lincoln‘s desk to the Illinois Old State Capital also chair believed Lincoln sat in during visits to the Diller drug store.

Mr. Diller belonged to the Illini Country Club, Sangamo Club, YMCA and the Senior Mens Golf Group and the Chicago Golf Association. He played in the Kroger Senior Classic in Cincinnati and the LPGA Pro Am for many years. He will be remembered as an avid golfer.

Mr. Diller had a lifelong interest in farming and cattle raising in central Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Corine Ryan and Jane Dixon and nephew, Hughes Ryan. He will be greatly missed by his family Barbara Weitekamp, Richard, (Lisa), William, (Andrea), Judith, (Ira), Brenda, (Alan), Susan, Margaret and Dennis, (Charlene) and 17 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, 4 nephews and 1 niece.

Mr. Diller holds the distinction of having a great grandfather, Roland Weaver Diller, who was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. His grandfather, as a child was a playmate of Abraham Lincoln’s two youngest sons, Willy and Tad.

The Diller Family of Springfield is a remarkable family in Illinois history. For eight generations the family can be traced back from the Revolutionary War to the present generation which is represented by William Hughes Diller, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the YMCA. Mr. Diller’s grandfather, Mr. Isaac Diller, was a cofounder of the Springfield Young Mens Christian Association in 1874.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday June 7, 2011 at Northlake Presbyterian Church (Florida). Pastor Dan Payton will officiate. Graveside services will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery 11:00 AM Friday June 10, 2011 with Rev. Dr. Clifford Hayes officiating and military honors by the InterVeterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County. Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel is in charge of local arrangements by. Online condolences may be left at www.boardman-smith.net