Patrick R. Laughlin, 78, of Urbana, died at 10:02 p.m. Sunday, August 26, 2012 at home. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, September 8 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Urbana, The Rev. Joseph Hogan officiating. There will be a reception on Friday, September 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S Philo Rd. Urbana.

Mr. Laughlin was born in Minneapolis, Minn. on May 25, 1934, the son of William P. and Ada Martin Laughlin. He married Rosemary Munch in 1966 and she survives. He is also survived by three sons: Gregory Laughlin (Adriane) of Santa Cruz, Calif., Mark Laughlin (Maribel) of Champaign, and Richard Laughlin (Marie) of Reston, Virginia; sisters: Ann Carey (Harold) of Huntsville, Ala. and Carol Smith of Arlington, Texas.

Mr. Laughlin received both a bachelor's and a master's degree from St. Louis University and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. He taught at Loyola University, Chicago, from 1965 to 1970. He was Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois from 1970 until his retirement. His research focused on how groups solve intellectual problems of all kinds.

Memorial contributions may be made to WILL-FM radio station at the University of Illinois or the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in care of St. Patrick's Parish, Urbana.