Longtime community leader Heaton dies at 82

A well-known longtime community leader in Princeton is no longer with us.  Richard "Dick" Heaton died Monday at age 82.  Heaton was was active in numerous community organizations, spending 20 years as Princeton Fire Chief, 18 years as Princeton Township Supervisor, and 14 as a Bureau County Board member.  He also served as president for the Princeton Rural Fire Protection District and was a trustee for many years. He was...

an executive committee member of United Counties Council of Illinois, a member of Civil Defense, the FEMA-Emergency Management Institute and was active in the Bureau County Emergency Services Disaster Agency, or ESDA.  He was also an amateur radio operator for more than 40 years.  He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janice Heaton of Princeton.  Visitation for Dick Heaton is being held Thursday from 4 to 7 at Norberg Memorial Home in Princeton, where services will take place Friday morning at 10.