Ralph E. Church

Ralph Edwin Church (May 5, 1883 – March 21, 1950) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1917 to 1932 and then represented the northern suburbs of Chicago in the United States House of Representatives for seven terms. He died in office in 1950 while testifying at a congressional hearing.

Ralph E. Church
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois
In office January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1941
Preceded by	James Simpson, Jr.
Succeeded by	George A. Paddock
Constituency	10th district
In office January 3, 1943 – March 21, 1950
Preceded by	George A. Paddock
Succeeded by	Marguerite S. Church
Constituency	10th district (1943–49) 13th district (1949–50)
Personal details
Born	(1883-05-05)May 5, 1883 Vermilion County, Illinois, U.S.
Died	March 21, 1950(1950-03-21) (aged 66) Washington D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Skokie, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Marguerite Stitt ​ (m. 1918)​
Alma mater	University of Michigan Northwestern University

Early life and career

Church was born on a farm near Catlin, Illinois in Vermillion County, Illinois. He went to Danville High School in Danville, Illinois. He received his bachelor's degree from University of Michigan and his master's and law degrees from Northwestern University. Church was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1909 and practiced law in Chicago, Illinois. He lived with his wife Marguerite S. Church and their family in Evanston, Illinois. He served in the United States Navy during World War I.

Political career

Church served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1917 to 1932 as a Republican. Church then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1935 to 1941 and from 1943 until his death in 1950.^[1][2][3] Church died suddenly while giving testimony before a Congressional House committee about expenditures.^[4] His wife Marguerite was elected in a special election to succeed her husband in the United States House of Representatives.^[5]

See also

• List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1950–1999)