- Date Of Birth: August 1, 1932
- Date Of Death: January 3, 2021
- State: Illinois
Robert Lyle “Bob” Briggs, 88, a longtime Ashland, IL, resident, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Springfield.
He was born Aug. 1, 1932, in Buckhorn, the son of Lyle and Reatha Wright Briggs. He married Esther Imogene “Jean” Newton on March 1, 1953, in Buckhorn, and she survives.
He is also survived by three sons and one daughter, Rick Alan (Sharon) Briggs of Springfield, James Robert (Diane) Briggs of Sherman, Phillip Eric (Teresa) Briggs of Simpsonville, NC, and Julie Briggs (Matt) Roland of Springfield; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Ronald (Rose) Briggs of Buckhorn; and Carol Ann Briggs (Elmer Hutchison) of Florida; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister in infancy.
Mr. Briggs was a graduate of Mt. Sterling High School. He then served in the U.S. Air Force. Following his discharge, he attended the Lending & Banking School at Illinois State University and received a diploma from the Agricultural Lending School in May of 1976. After that, he started his career at Marine Bank of Springfield for four years, and then began a 35-year career as Vice President and Lending Officer at State Bank of Ashland, retiring in 1994. He continued to serve on the Bank Board until 1995. Bob was a lifetime member of Ashland United Methodist Church, where he was Vice-President of the board for eight years. He was also a member of the Ashland VFW, the Commemorative Air Force, a life member and Past President of the Ashland PTA, served two years as President of the Green, Morgan, and Cass County IBA Federation, and was a former member and officer of the Ashland Lions Club. Earlier in his life, he enjoyed coaching Little League and Pony League Baseball. In retirement, he drove a school bus for the Ashland School District. Bob loved hugs, golf, travel, hunting, meeting new people, making homemade ice cream, fishing, taking drives, the farm, Brown County, visiting with anyone, and most of all, family. He was most proud of serving in the Air Force and working for the State Bank of Ashland for 35 years, now known as West Central Bank (WCB).
