Robert A. Stuart, 70, of Springfield died 8:08 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, 1988, at Memorial Medical Center.

He was born March 11, 1917, in Sheridan, Wyo., the son of Robert B. and Lillian Mason Stuart. He married Elizabeth Pexton in 1942.

Mr. Stuart was a graduate of the University of Michigan and University of Michigan Law School. He served with Army Intelligence during World War II. For 46 years, he was an associate and partner in the Springfield law firm of Brown, Hay & Stephens. He served as a professor at the Lincoln College of Law.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, having served on the boards of Christian education, deacons, trustees and session. He was belonged to the Sangamon County, St. Louis, Wyoming, Illinois and American Bar Associations; St. Paul's No. 500 AF&AM; past presiding officer Springfield York Rite Bodies; a 33rd degree Mason; Ansar Shrine; and board of directors of the Springfield Masonic Temple Corporation.

He served as vice president of the A. Lincoln Council of Boy Scouts, and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award. He was a former president of Boys Farm; former member of the YMCA Youth Committee; and chairman of the Advisory Council of Stephen Douglas Chapter of DeMolay.

He was a member of Springfield Park Board from 1954 to 1975, serving as president from 1957 to 1975. During that time he helped initiate improvements at Thomas Rees Carillon, Washington Park Gardens and Horticultural Center, Henson Robinson Children's Zoo, Nelson Recreation Center and Eisenhower Pool.

He served as general counsel and legislative representative for the Illinois Association of Park Districts, and was a member of its board. Nationally, he served on the board of trustees and executive committee for the National Recreation and Park Association. He served on various committees with the Illinois and American Bar Association. He had just completed a term as president of the Board of Trustees for the National Recreational Foundation.

He was active in early efforts establishing the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority and served on the Sangamon County Plan Commission, the Advisory Council for Capital City Railroad Relocation Authority, Governor's Tort Commission, and State Advisory Board of Local Government Affairs. He was charter member and president of the Lincoln Sites Institute; a past chairman of the Cancer Fund; member of SSU Foundation and Michigan Law School Committee.

Surviving are his wife, Betty; two daughters, Mrs. Anne Linxwiler of Springfield and Dr. Mary Stuart Fleitman of North Hampton, Mass.; one son, Robert A. Stuart Jr. of Springfield; and five grandchildren.

Services at the First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Anne Fisher officiating. Burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) - January 8, 1988.