Husband of 1st Edith Laswell Higgins, 2nd Helen Rackley Higgins.
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Gilbert A. "Gib" Higgins
GILBERT "GIB" A.
HIGGINS, 102
H & H Oil Company
HAINES CITY - At age 99, Gib stood before some 100 friends and family and announced that he "was having the time of his life". Gib continued to have the time of his life up until his last breath on March 23, 2008 when he died of natural causes at the age of 102.
Gilbert came into this world on May 16, 1905 in West Salem, IL., the son of Ernest and Della (Cunningham) Higgins. His early years were spent on the farm with his brothers and sisters, Ruth Higgins Allen, Opal Higgins Woods, Burley Higgins, and Clarence Higgins, all of whom have predeceased Gib. During this time he rode horses, caught rabbits and learned to drive his dad's Model T Ford, beginning a life long love affair with Ford automobiles.
Gilbert married Edith Laswell in 1932. They were married for 62 years and had two sons, Robert and William. G. William Higgins was married to Sharon, both of whom predeceased Gib. He is survived by his son Robert and his wife, Pam of Evansville, Indiana. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Gilbert William Higgins, II, Camilla Higgins Buese, Andrew Ziemer Higgins, Ryan William Higgins, and Lauren Michelle Higgins. He is also survived by 12 great grandchildren.
Gib started working at 18 selling cars at the Payne Ford Motor Company until 1928 when he moved to Mt. Carmel. When he was 25, Gib began selling cigars for the Fendrich Cigar Company. He traveled the tri-state area selling cigars in Jasper, Tell City, Rockport, Hopkinsville, Princeton and Evansville. Upon leaving the cigar business, he bought a farm in Warwick County where he raised cattle. He operated three Ford and Lincoln Mercury car dealerships in Boonville, Evansville and Washington, Indiana from shortly after World War II until 1965.
In 1965 Gib left the car business and became an independent oil producer in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. He started H & H Oil Company with his son Robert Higgins in 1977. Gib kept his hands in the oil business in Illinois up until his death, drilling his last well in the summer of 2006.
In addition to staying active in his own businesses, Gib was also a director of the Warwick National Bank in Boonville, Indiana for many years. He was an Exalted Ruler of the Boonville Elks Club and a Kentucky Colonel.
While in the oil business, Gib spent his winters in Florida. At different times he owned cattle ranches and citrus groves in the central part of the state. He became a full-time resident of Florida in 1983 and remained so until his death.
Gilbert of Lake Wales, FL, formerly of Mt. Carmel, passed away in his home under the loving care of his wife, Helen and of his caregivers: Mary Batson, Becky Abernathy, Betty Lane, Bill & Jill Smutak, Louise Few, Maria Rodriguez, Sandra Hogan, and Joan Berry. He will be greatly missed by all.
Following the death of his wife, Edith in 1994, Gilbert met and later married his current wife, Helen Rackley Higgins in 1996. Helen survives Gilbert and continues to reside in Lake Wales, Florida.
Friends may call on Friday, March 28, 2008 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Mt. Carmel Funeral Services for Gib will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Short Funeral Home. Gilbert will be laid to rest in Highland Memorial Cemetery next to his first wife, Edith Laswell Higgins.
Condolences to:
www.oakridgefuneralcare.com
Published in the Ledger on 3/26/2008.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gilbert A. "Gib" Higgins
GILBERT "GIB" A.
HIGGINS, 102
H & H Oil Company
HAINES CITY - At age 99, Gib stood before some 100 friends and family and announced that he "was having the time of his life". Gib continued to have the time of his life up until his last breath on March 23, 2008 when he died of natural causes at the age of 102.
Gilbert came into this world on May 16, 1905 in West Salem, IL., the son of Ernest and Della (Cunningham) Higgins. His early years were spent on the farm with his brothers and sisters, Ruth Higgins Allen, Opal Higgins Woods, Burley Higgins, and Clarence Higgins, all of whom have predeceased Gib. During this time he rode horses, caught rabbits and learned to drive his dad's Model T Ford, beginning a life long love affair with Ford automobiles.
Gilbert married Edith Laswell in 1932. They were married for 62 years and had two sons, Robert and William. G. William Higgins was married to Sharon, both of whom predeceased Gib. He is survived by his son Robert and his wife, Pam of Evansville, Indiana. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Gilbert William Higgins, II, Camilla Higgins Buese, Andrew Ziemer Higgins, Ryan William Higgins, and Lauren Michelle Higgins. He is also survived by 12 great grandchildren.
Gib started working at 18 selling cars at the Payne Ford Motor Company until 1928 when he moved to Mt. Carmel. When he was 25, Gib began selling cigars for the Fendrich Cigar Company. He traveled the tri-state area selling cigars in Jasper, Tell City, Rockport, Hopkinsville, Princeton and Evansville. Upon leaving the cigar business, he bought a farm in Warwick County where he raised cattle. He operated three Ford and Lincoln Mercury car dealerships in Boonville, Evansville and Washington, Indiana from shortly after World War II until 1965.
In 1965 Gib left the car business and became an independent oil producer in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. He started H & H Oil Company with his son Robert Higgins in 1977. Gib kept his hands in the oil business in Illinois up until his death, drilling his last well in the summer of 2006.
In addition to staying active in his own businesses, Gib was also a director of the Warwick National Bank in Boonville, Indiana for many years. He was an Exalted Ruler of the Boonville Elks Club and a Kentucky Colonel.
While in the oil business, Gib spent his winters in Florida. At different times he owned cattle ranches and citrus groves in the central part of the state. He became a full-time resident of Florida in 1983 and remained so until his death.
Gilbert of Lake Wales, FL, formerly of Mt. Carmel, passed away in his home under the loving care of his wife, Helen and of his caregivers: Mary Batson, Becky Abernathy, Betty Lane, Bill & Jill Smutak, Louise Few, Maria Rodriguez, Sandra Hogan, and Joan Berry. He will be greatly missed by all.
Following the death of his wife, Edith in 1994, Gilbert met and later married his current wife, Helen Rackley Higgins in 1996. Helen survives Gilbert and continues to reside in Lake Wales, Florida.
Friends may call on Friday, March 28, 2008 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Mt. Carmel Funeral Services for Gib will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Short Funeral Home. Gilbert will be laid to rest in Highland Memorial Cemetery next to his first wife, Edith Laswell Higgins.
Condolences to:
www.oakridgefuneralcare.com
Published in the Ledger on 3/26/2008.
Husband of 1st Edith Laswell Higgins, 2nd Helen Rackley Higgins.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gilbert A. "Gib" Higgins
GILBERT "GIB" A.
HIGGINS, 102
H & H Oil Company
HAINES CITY - At age 99, Gib stood before some 100 friends and family and announced that he "was having the time of his life". Gib continued to have the time of his life up until his last breath on March 23, 2008 when he died of natural causes at the age of 102.
Gilbert came into this world on May 16, 1905 in West Salem, IL., the son of Ernest and Della (Cunningham) Higgins. His early years were spent on the farm with his brothers and sisters, Ruth Higgins Allen, Opal Higgins Woods, Burley Higgins, and Clarence Higgins, all of whom have predeceased Gib. During this time he rode horses, caught rabbits and learned to drive his dad's Model T Ford, beginning a life long love affair with Ford automobiles.
Gilbert married Edith Laswell in 1932. They were married for 62 years and had two sons, Robert and William. G. William Higgins was married to Sharon, both of whom predeceased Gib. He is survived by his son Robert and his wife, Pam of Evansville, Indiana. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Gilbert William Higgins, II, Camilla Higgins Buese, Andrew Ziemer Higgins, Ryan William Higgins, and Lauren Michelle Higgins. He is also survived by 12 great grandchildren.
Gib started working at 18 selling cars at the Payne Ford Motor Company until 1928 when he moved to Mt. Carmel. When he was 25, Gib began selling cigars for the Fendrich Cigar Company. He traveled the tri-state area selling cigars in Jasper, Tell City, Rockport, Hopkinsville, Princeton and Evansville. Upon leaving the cigar business, he bought a farm in Warwick County where he raised cattle. He operated three Ford and Lincoln Mercury car dealerships in Boonville, Evansville and Washington, Indiana from shortly after World War II until 1965.
In 1965 Gib left the car business and became an independent oil producer in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. He started H & H Oil Company with his son Robert Higgins in 1977. Gib kept his hands in the oil business in Illinois up until his death, drilling his last well in the summer of 2006.
In addition to staying active in his own businesses, Gib was also a director of the Warwick National Bank in Boonville, Indiana for many years. He was an Exalted Ruler of the Boonville Elks Club and a Kentucky Colonel.
While in the oil business, Gib spent his winters in Florida. At different times he owned cattle ranches and citrus groves in the central part of the state. He became a full-time resident of Florida in 1983 and remained so until his death.
Gilbert of Lake Wales, FL, formerly of Mt. Carmel, passed away in his home under the loving care of his wife, Helen and of his caregivers: Mary Batson, Becky Abernathy, Betty Lane, Bill & Jill Smutak, Louise Few, Maria Rodriguez, Sandra Hogan, and Joan Berry. He will be greatly missed by all.
Following the death of his wife, Edith in 1994, Gilbert met and later married his current wife, Helen Rackley Higgins in 1996. Helen survives Gilbert and continues to reside in Lake Wales, Florida.
Friends may call on Friday, March 28, 2008 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Mt. Carmel Funeral Services for Gib will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Short Funeral Home. Gilbert will be laid to rest in Highland Memorial Cemetery next to his first wife, Edith Laswell Higgins.
Condolences to:
www.oakridgefuneralcare.com
Published in the Ledger on 3/26/2008.
View/Sign Guestbook
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gilbert A. "Gib" Higgins
GILBERT "GIB" A.
HIGGINS, 102
H & H Oil Company
HAINES CITY - At age 99, Gib stood before some 100 friends and family and announced that he "was having the time of his life". Gib continued to have the time of his life up until his last breath on March 23, 2008 when he died of natural causes at the age of 102.
Gilbert came into this world on May 16, 1905 in West Salem, IL., the son of Ernest and Della (Cunningham) Higgins. His early years were spent on the farm with his brothers and sisters, Ruth Higgins Allen, Opal Higgins Woods, Burley Higgins, and Clarence Higgins, all of whom have predeceased Gib. During this time he rode horses, caught rabbits and learned to drive his dad's Model T Ford, beginning a life long love affair with Ford automobiles.
Gilbert married Edith Laswell in 1932. They were married for 62 years and had two sons, Robert and William. G. William Higgins was married to Sharon, both of whom predeceased Gib. He is survived by his son Robert and his wife, Pam of Evansville, Indiana. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Gilbert William Higgins, II, Camilla Higgins Buese, Andrew Ziemer Higgins, Ryan William Higgins, and Lauren Michelle Higgins. He is also survived by 12 great grandchildren.
Gib started working at 18 selling cars at the Payne Ford Motor Company until 1928 when he moved to Mt. Carmel. When he was 25, Gib began selling cigars for the Fendrich Cigar Company. He traveled the tri-state area selling cigars in Jasper, Tell City, Rockport, Hopkinsville, Princeton and Evansville. Upon leaving the cigar business, he bought a farm in Warwick County where he raised cattle. He operated three Ford and Lincoln Mercury car dealerships in Boonville, Evansville and Washington, Indiana from shortly after World War II until 1965.
In 1965 Gib left the car business and became an independent oil producer in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. He started H & H Oil Company with his son Robert Higgins in 1977. Gib kept his hands in the oil business in Illinois up until his death, drilling his last well in the summer of 2006.
In addition to staying active in his own businesses, Gib was also a director of the Warwick National Bank in Boonville, Indiana for many years. He was an Exalted Ruler of the Boonville Elks Club and a Kentucky Colonel.
While in the oil business, Gib spent his winters in Florida. At different times he owned cattle ranches and citrus groves in the central part of the state. He became a full-time resident of Florida in 1983 and remained so until his death.
Gilbert of Lake Wales, FL, formerly of Mt. Carmel, passed away in his home under the loving care of his wife, Helen and of his caregivers: Mary Batson, Becky Abernathy, Betty Lane, Bill & Jill Smutak, Louise Few, Maria Rodriguez, Sandra Hogan, and Joan Berry. He will be greatly missed by all.
Following the death of his wife, Edith in 1994, Gilbert met and later married his current wife, Helen Rackley Higgins in 1996. Helen survives Gilbert and continues to reside in Lake Wales, Florida.
Friends may call on Friday, March 28, 2008 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Mt. Carmel Funeral Services for Gib will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Short Funeral Home. Gilbert will be laid to rest in Highland Memorial Cemetery next to his first wife, Edith Laswell Higgins.
Condolences to:
www.oakridgefuneralcare.com
Published in the Ledger on 3/26/2008.
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