Arthur Aikman

CUSTOM DEATH NOTICE Dr. Arthur L. Aikman, 84, of Decatur, formerly of Carbondale, died Tuesday, November 30, 2010, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.Visitation for family and friends will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Thursday, December 2, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Friday, December 3, at First United Methodist Church, Carbondale, IL, with additional visitation from 12:00 P.M. until service time. Private family burial will be at Dodge Grove Cemetery, Mattoon, IL. Memorials may be made to the Decatur Family Y.M.C.A., the Arthur L. and Sammye L. Aikman Council of 100 Educational Scholarship at SIU Foundation, First United Methodist Church, Carbondale, or Imboden Creek Health Services.Dr. Aikman was born June 12, 1926, in Mattoon the son of George E. and Wilhelmina (Reidell) Aikman. He married Sammye Lou Swango November 8, 1947, in Mattoon. He lived in Carbondale for 43 years, and moved to Decatur in 2006. Dr. Aikman served with the US Navy in World War II and the Korean War, and holds degrees from Eastern Illinois University (EIU), the University of Illinois, and Southern Illinois University (SIU). He was a Professor Emeritus of Southern Illinois University. He had more than forty years of service in education. Prior to joining the faculty at SIU, he was a teacher, Principal, and Superintendent in the Illinois Public Schools of Loda, Onarga, Cissna Park, and East Lynn. As part of his service at SIU, Dr. Aikman served as Director of the National Teacher Corps program, Chief of Party of the largest of SIUs Agency for International Development contract teams in Vietnam, chaired some forty North Central Association Evaluation Teams, served as Ministry of Education consultant and lecturer in Thailand and Nepal in 1980 and 1985, served as Executive Secretary of the Educational Council of 100, as Area Coordinator of the eight downstate Chapters of Phi Delta Kappa (PDK), as Chair of the SIU Foundation Committee of PDK, and as President of the Jackson/Perry County Regional Board of School Trustees. In June 1988, Dr. Aikman was presented the Lyndell B. Sturgis Award, the only award presented by the SIU Board of Trustees, in recognition of public service. In October 1988, he received the Eastern Illinois University Distinguished Alumnus Award and was later honored as one of the hundred greatest supporters of EIU during its first one-hundred years. He has received honors from the Illinois Curriculum Council (1991), the Illinois State Board of Education (1992), EC100 (1996), the SURS Board (2004), and the office of the Regional Superintendent (2006). He continued to be actively involved in and supportive of Illinois Education at all levels.More recently, Dr. Aikman was a member of EIU Foundation Board, and the SIU Alumni Board. He was also a crossword puzzle devotee, enjoyed swimming at the Y.M.C.A., sang in the Central Christian church choir, and was an avid SIU Salukis Fan. He was a former member of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A., attended Central Christian Church, Decatur, was a member of First United Methodist Church, Carbondale, American Legion, and Phi Delta Kappa Educational Association.He is survived by his wife Sammye of Decatur; son William (Janet) Aikman of Decatur; son Lt. Col. Bob (Susan) Aikman, USMC, Retired, of Norman, OK; grandchildren: Christina Aikman of Norman, OK; Capt. Rob (Michelle) Aikman, USAF, of Maryville, IL; Ryan Aikman of Decatur; Christopher (Jennifer) Aikman of Monticello, IL, 4 great-grandchildren, and his scottish terrier, Angus.He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and two sisters.Dr. Aimans family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Stephen Goetter and the staffs of Imboden Creek Living Center and I.C.U. of Decatur Memorial Hospital for their devoted care during his illness. Condolences may be left to the family at www.brintlingerandearl.com "
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