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BORN
1930
DIED
2021
FUNERAL HOME
202 N. Main Street
Port Byron, Illinois
Ralph Black Obituary
Born: February 20, 1930 in Phoenix Township, Henry County, Illinois
Died: October 20, 2021 in Geneseo, Illinois
Ralph R. Black, 91, of Hillsdale, IL, died Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Allure of Geneseo. Services will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at Gibson – Bode Funeral Home, Port Byron. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 pm on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Bethesda Cemetery, Hillsdale. Memorial may be made to the Hillsdale Fire Department or the Hillsdale United Methodist Church.
Ralph was born February 20, 1930 in Henry County, Illinois, the son of Clarence and Bertha (Heeren) Black. He attended several one room school houses and graduated from Hillsdale High School in 1948. Ralph married Lois Franks on March 15, 1952 in Illinois City, IL. He farmed for over 50 years in the Hillsdale area, retiring in 2000. During the winters he worked for John Deere and Golden Seed. He was a member of the Hillsdale United Methodist Church, served on the Hillsdale Elevator Board, the Moore Memorial Library Board for 14 years, and spent more than 30 years on the Hillsdale Drainage District.
Ralph enjoyed watching the Chicago Bears, Cubs and the Fighting Illini football team. After retiring, he loved taking daily drives around the countryside with Lois to watch for wildlife.
Surviving are his wife, Lois Black; 5 children, Bob (Linda) Black, Hillsdale, Sue Black (John Eyer), Erie, Alan (Janet) Black, Hillsdale, Beth Quilty, Hillsdale, Kelly (Shawna) Black, Erie; brothers, Charles (Patt) Black, Hillsdale, Dick (Lois) Black, Hillsdale; 11 grandchildren, Matt and Mike Wessels, Phylicia Meier, Jett and Beau Black, Mike Quilty, Michelle Dillin, Jason Neels, Celia Gosa, Claire Smith, Deanna Black; and 22 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Paul; grandson, Joe Quilty; and brother, Bill Black.
The family would like to give special thanks to Heidi and Ellen for the care they gave him at home and to all those from Compassus Hospice that cared for him at the end. Share a memory or condolence at www.gibsonbodefh.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ralph Black
Sponsored by Gibson - Bode Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd. - Port Byron.
1 Entry
Francis Pearsall, and Janet Roy
October 28, 2021
To all of Ralph's family;
Ralph was always a dear friend to be around, whether at Golden seed, or on the farm. He always had time to lend a helping hand or just say a kind word.
Blessings Janet and Francis
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Memorial Events
for Ralph Black
Oct
25
Visitation
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Gibson - Bode Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd. - Port Byron202 N. Main Street, Port Byron, IL 61275
Oct
26
Service
10:30 a.m.
Gibson - Bode Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd. - Port Byron202 N. Main Street, Port Byron, IL 61275
Funeral services provided by:
Gibson - Bode Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd. - Port Byron202 N. Main Street, Port Byron, IL 61275
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