Lillian Herron Biggs died in her sleep at Bethesda Dilworth Nursing Home on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002, just a few months shy of her 90th birthday.
Mrs. Biggs was a lifelong resident of Kirkwood, and active in many St. Louis area institutions. In the early 1930s, after attending Washington University for just a year, she married Peter Willis Biggs. The marriage ended in divorce in 1950, and Mrs. Biggs went to work as a secretary in the law department of Ralston Purina.
In 1960 she became the secretary, office manager and librarian for Thomas Jefferson School, retiring in 1974. She completed her undergraduate degree in night school, graduating from Washington University in 1970.
Mrs. Biggs was an enthusiastic gardener, and in retirement was able to indulge that passion in her own garden and in voluntary service. She served the Missouri Botanical Garden in many roles, from the Answer Man service to staffing the greeting and information table at the Ridgeway Center. She was an active member of the Rowena Clark Garden Club.
She also became a regular in the St. Louis tournament bridge world. She joined the Junior League in her 70s, and took up golf in her late 60s. She was an active volunteer at Bethesda Gardens while living there for four years, helping to plan outings for the residents.
Mrs. Biggs is survived by her daughter, Susan Biggs Francis; her son, John Herron Biggs; three grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 514 E. Argonne in Kirkwood at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14.
In lieu of flowers, she hoped that friends would contribute in her memory to the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Elbert W. Burr, a long-time area resident, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2002.
Mr. Burr was born in Palmyra, N.Y., on May 8, 1917, the son of Mabel Park Burr and Elbert Wright Burr. He was a graduate of Colgate University and the University of Chicago. He served in the United States Navy in Cuba and in the United States from 1941 to 1945.
Mr. Burr married Eleanor Jean Vetter on June 29, 1940. He was a high school teacher both in New York State and the Laboratory School of the University of Chicago. He went on to work for International Harvester Company in personnel. He retired from Monsanto Chemical Company after a long career in personnel and international personnel management. After retirement, he established his own out-placement consulting firm, Intentional Change Inc. in Clayton.
Over many years, Mr. Burr volunteered his time in a variety of ways. He was a member of the Kirkwood School Board and a trustee of Blackburn College and had a life-long interest in education. He also devoted much time to Eden Seminary and the Alzheimer's Association. He served the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves in numerous ways for the past 40 years.
Mr. Burr enjoyed travel as a businessman and in retirement, especially his trips to China and Australia. He loved the Maine coastline and visited the family cottage at Popham Beach, Maine, as often as possible.
Mr. Burr is survived by his wife, Eleanor; daughters Elizabeth Burr and Cynthia Peterson; granddaughters Sara (husband Erik Sessions) and Kate; and great granddaughter Meg Sessions. He was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Burr Holdridge.
A memorial service was held Thursday, Sept. 12 at the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves; arrangements through Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood.
Memorials may be made to the St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation.
Burton W. "Burt" Blanner, retired owner and partner in one of Webster Groves' oldest businesses, Blanner Electric, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002, at Big Bend Woods Nursing Facility in Valley Park. Mr. Blanner was 83.
Blanner Electric, 136 W. Lockwood Ave., was established by Mr. Blanner's father, the late George Blanner, in 1912. Burton Blanner took over the electrical contracting business from his father, and now Mr. Blanner's son, Larry Blanner, runs the family business.
Mr. Blanner, a Webster Groves High School graduate, served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Japan. He was Company Electrician with 21st Quartermaster Car Company. He was a truck driver as a member of the 163rd Infantry, 41st Division in the Philippines Island and Japan.
Mr. Blanner is survived by his wife, Edith Blanner (nee Slawson) of Webster Groves; his son, Lawrence G. "Larry" Blanner of Glendale; and three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 26, noon at the Community Christian Church, 623 Meramec Station Road (Hwy. 141) in Manchester. The body will be cremated.
Memorial donations may be made to: Pathways Community Hospice, 270 Lamp and Lantern Village, Chesterfield, Mo. 63017 or to Community Christian Church.
Bernard R. Blume, a resident of Oakland, died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002.
Mr. Blume was a certified public accountant for over 20 years. He served in the Army from June 2, 1943, to Jan. 4, 1946.
Mr. Blume was the husband of Virginia Blume and father to Douglas R. Blume, Jeffrey B. Blume, and Daria J. Imbeault. He was a grandfather of four.
Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery in Affton.
Barbara Uhl Bolles, of Webster Groves, died on Saturday, July 6, 2002. She was 45 years old.
Mrs. Bolles was the wife of Larry Bolles and mother of Collin. She was an artist, art therapist, and care worker. Her interest in environmental causes led her into work with Union Avenue Christian Church, which saved 30, 000 trees through Save The Rain Forest.
A graveside service was held Wednesday, July 10, at Forever Oak Hill Cemetery in Kirkwood. A memorial celebration of her life was held later that day at Union Avenue Christian Church, Union and Enright avenues just north of Delmar.
Memorial gifts to the Nature Conservancy, 2800 S. Brentwood Blvd., 63144.
Victor D. Brannon, a long-time resident of Glendale, died Wednesday, April 3, 2002. He was 93 years old.
Mr. Brannon was active in improving St. Louis city and county governments for over 40 years as director of The Governmental Research Institute (GRI).
The Institute was a non-profit, non-partisan organization which, through research and statistical analysis, provided government officials with data that helped them become more productive.
The GRI was instrumental in the creation of organizations such as: the St. Louis County Police Department; the Metropolitan Sewer District; and the Department of Revenue for St. Louis County.
Mr. Brannon was the beloved husband of Dorothy (nee Webb); father of Vicki (Jasper) Savage and Richard (Joyce) Brannon; grandfather of Tammy (Chris) Schreck, Colleen McBroom, and Stephen Brannon; great-grandfather of Kyle and Chelsea McBroom; uncle, brother, and friend to many.
Services were private under the direction of Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves.
Robert H. Buck, a 46-year resident of Glendale, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002.
Mr. Buck was born in Webster Groves. He earned an engineering degree in 1935, and after graduation became a reserve officer in the U.S. Army. He served in the Philippines and New Guinea during WWII, and retired in 1966 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Mr. Buck and his late wife, Mary, were members of the Des Peres Baptist Church. He was an engineer for Monsanto Company for 23 years, and a long-time volunteer at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
He is survived by his brother, W. Earle Buck; a daughter, Mary Martin; a son, David Buck; grandchildren Joseph Alsobrook, James Martin, Barry Martin and Dorothy Ahearn; and great-grandchildren Micah and Jordan Alsobrook and Victoria and Erika Martin. He was preceded in death by Mary, his wife of 63 years.
A memorial service was to be held Thursday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m. at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Road in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Symphony, or any good cause.
Francis Travers Burgess died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002. Mr. Burgess was a resident of Kirkwood.
Mr. Burgess' family moved to St. Louis County shortly after the Civil War. He served in the army during WWII, and was admitted to the District of Columbia and Missouri bars to practice law before the United States and Canadian Offices.
Mr. Burgess also served in the American Car & Foundry patent department from 1945 to 1954 and as Patent Counsel of General Steel Castings Corp. and its successors from 1954 to 1989.
Mr. Burgess was the son of the late Frank Lingow and Ella Glynn Burgess; grandson of Edward and Susan Lingow Burgess; great grandson of John and Ellen Donnelly and James Joseph and Isabella Travers; cousin of Ellen Boyce Steck.
A funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Sept. 10 at St. Peter's Church in Kirkwood. Interment in St. Peter's Cemetery, Kirkwood. Masses preferred for memorials.
Pamela T. Byrd of Kirkwood died Friday, Nov. 8, 2002. She was 39.
Mrs. Byrd was the wife of Gregory Byrd; mother of Christopher, Samuel, Jessica and Patrick Byrd.
A memorial service was held Nov. 13 at Forever Oak Hill at Pfitzinger in Kirkwood.
John E. "Al" Childress, died Saturday, June 1, 2002.
Mr. Childress was the owner of The Squire's Shop, a fine men's and boy's clothing store in Warson Woods. He was past president of the Kirkwood Chamber of Commerce and the Lion's Club and a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Childress is survived by his sister, Lila Fitzsimmons; three daughters, Christine Maurer of Prairie Village, Kan., Deborah Hill of Plano, Texas, and Carolyn Webb of Sacramento, Calif.; and six grandchildren. He was a loving father and grandfather, and will be remembered fondly by many.
Visitation was at Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood. Interment at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
