Edward "Jiggs" Goldsborough's Obituary
Edward Leon Goldsborough, affectionately known as “Jiggs” to many, age 98, passed away peacefully at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL, March 23, 2023.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at Liberty Christian Church, rural Brownstown with Pastor Clayton Richison officiating. Interment will follow in Liberty Christian Church Cemetery with military honors accorded by Brownstown VFW Post #9770. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00-11:00 AM, Tuesday, at the church. Memorials may be made to Liberty Christian Church Cemetery fund, 1593 East 2300 Ave. Brownstown, IL 62418. Online condolences can be expressed at www.hohltandfilefh.com
Mr. Goldsborough was born June 29, 1924, the son of Jake and Jennie (Dance) Goldsborough, in Sefton Township, Fayette County, IL. He married Roberta Eleanor Doyle in Sefton Township on November 2, 1947; she preceded him in death on March 3, 1984. He later married Louella (Buck) Sarver on December 24, 1985.
Edward was a WWII veteran having served in the US Marines with the Third Marine Division. He received a Purple Heart for injuries incurred at Iwo Jima. After the war and his marriage to Roberta, he continued to farm in Sefton Township and later moved to Macon, IL for a brief time farming for a family there.
Around the year 1952, Edward and his young family moved to Decatur where he began working on the Illinois Central Railroad, starting as a Fireman on steam fired locomotives; in 1960 he became a locomotive engineer. He retired from the ICRR in 1984.
A move back to Fayette County occurred in 1975 and that’s where he spent the remainder of his earthly days. He loved to hunt, garden, travel, and be with his family. He mowed his own yard up until age 98. He drove his truck to Mark’s Café in Brownstown every morning until just a few days before he died. He was a life-long member of Liberty Christian Church in Sefton Township.
In addition to his wife, Roberta; his parents and nine siblings preceded him in death.
He leaves to mourn, his wife, Louella; sons, Tom and wife Dari Goldsborough of St. Elmo and Jim and wife Michele Goldsborough of Ava; daughters, Patty and husband Marty Napier of Weatherford, TX and Peggy and husband Greg Eldredge of Vandalia; grandchildren, Jeremy Napier and wife Carol, Aaron Napier and wife Jessica, Cary Eldredge and wife Kelly, Ian Eldredge and wife Candice, Abby Eldredge, Scott Eldredge and wife Jordan, David Goldsborough and fiancé Dena, Heather Setzer and husband Jeff, Jake Goldsborough and wife Haley, Cody Goldsborough and wife Heather, Zachary Goldsborough and Austin Goldsborough and wife Marlene; 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. He also leaves step-children Ed Sarver and wife Charlene, Debbie and husband Blake O’Dell and Dee and husband Keith Sanders; 7 step-grandchildren, Stephanie Bakmaz, Stacie Summers, Jessica Sanders-Torbeck, Christopher Sanders, April Swanson, Aaron O’Dell, Arlen O’Dell and 19 step-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great grandchild.
He will be missed by several nieces and nephews who were very dear to him, along with a host of other family and friends, especially his friends at Mark’s Café in Brownstown, even those that drove Fords!
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