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William G. Ridgeway, 81 of Murphysboro, died
at 5:05 am Monday, June 9, 2008 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Bill
was born March 6, 1927 at Coulterville, IL., to the late William Clayton
and Elizabeth (Penrod) Ridgeway. His father was killed in a coal mine
accident on April 2, 1929. He attended Pleasant Hill and Buncome Grade
Schools south of Carbondale, graduated from grade , University High and
S.I.U. in Shryock auditorium. He went on to graduate from the University
of Illinois College of Law in 1952, and was admitted to the Illinois Bar
and the Federal Bar that year. He practiced law briefly in Harrisburg then
in 1953 began to practice in Murphysboro. He was also a U.S. Army veteran
of World War II. He married Elizabeth Ann Greer in Junction, IL., on June
16, 1950, Elizabeth survives of Murphysboro. A daughter Carol Ann
(Ridgeway) Brady was born to them in Urbana, IL., on November 3, 1951, who
survives as does her husband; Steve Brady, and a granddaughter Lori Brady
all of Texas and another granddaughter Nicole Brady of Reston, VA., a
nephew; Carl Gene Hagler and a niece; Marsha Yates plus many other
loved-in-laws, nephews and great Nephews and nieces. Funeral services will
be at 11 am Thursday, June 12, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in
Murphysboro, with Rev. Earl Renshaw and Rev. Richard Lewis officiating,
burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park near Murphysboro with
military graveside rites by American Legion Post 127 and V.F.W. Post 7190
both of Murphysboro, V.F.W. Post 2605 Carbondale and Jackson County
Disabled American Veterans Chapter 69. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 pm
on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro and
from 9 to 11 am Thursday at the church. Memorials are encouraged and may
be made to the United Methodist Church. Bill practiced law with Fred B.
Herbert until elected State's Attorney of Jackson County in 1956 and
re-elected in 1960. After 1964, he practiced in the former law office of
Isaac K. Levy solo until 1970 when he formed a partnership with Charles W.
Decker in 1981. He formed a partnership with Herbert E. McMeen and later
partnerships with Gary Dillinger and Gary Miller. He retired in 1989
although he continued to practice somewhat until the end of 2006. Bill was
a public defender of Jackson County for approximately 19 months and was
assistant Attorney General for Inheritance tax matters for approximately
13 years. He was a member of the Illinois, State and Federal Bar
Association. He was a 32nd Degree Mason; a member of Ainaid Shrine, he
also was a life member of the Murphysboro Elks Lodge # 498 and Paul Stout
Post 127 American Legion. Bill was a regular member of the United
Methodist Church and served in many offices both at Oak Grove Methodist
Church in Makanda and Murphysboro United Methodist Church where he served
for 50 plus years. He was very active in St. Joseph Memorial Hospital
serving on the Board of Directors and later as attorney for the same. He
was preceded in death by his parents; step-father; Homer Forby, sisters,
Virginia Hagler and Bette Hartline Beasley, a foster sister and cousin
Dorothy Maloy. |
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