Richard Ewart Aston, 81, of Crystal Lake

Richard Ewart Aston, 81, of Crystal Lake, peacefully passed away Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, at his home.

Born Sept. 6, 1932, in Elgin, Richard was the son of the late Frank and Mattie (nee Boppre) Aston.

He was united in marriage to Patricia Mae Robinson on Sept. 7, 1957, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church.

Richard proudly served as a U.S. Marine during the Korean War.

Richard was a championship bowler who loved to travel the world and spend time with his grandchildren. He remained active with the Marine Corps League and proudly represented the Marines in the Crystal Lake Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades for many years.

He was known for his rhyming poetry, his kindness to all, and his fondness for chatting with everyone he met. Richard recently visited his his ancestral castle in Staffordshire, United Kingdom, with his family.

Richard is survived by his daughters, Julie (Stephen) Cronin of Batavia, Laura (Kevin) McKinsey of St. Charles, Geri (Matthew) Weinstock of Chicago, and Christine (Jeffrey) Morse of Winnetka; sons, Richard (Elizabeth) Aston of Lake St. Louis, MO and Thomas Aston of Crystal Lake; and grandchildren, John and Joseph Cronin, Matthew, Joshua and Nicholas Aston, Elizabeth, Patrick and Kathryn McKinsey, Frank and Lillian Weinstock, and Connor, Charlie, Josie and William Morse.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his step-father William Rehberg, his brother Frank Aston, and his step-sister Muriel Rehberg, in addition to a number of other friends and family, who will no doubt have a martini waiting for him when he arrives.

The visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Route 176, Crystal Lake.

Prayers will be said at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22, followed by the 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 451 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake.

Interment will follow at McHenry County Memorial Park, Woodstock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Richard’s name may be made to Marine Corps League, P.O. Box 3070, Merrifield VA 22116, 703-207-9588, www.MCLeague.com or Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka KS 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.com.