Robert Ihrig

Robert Arthur Ihrig, 61, of Ashland, died early Saturday morning, August 6, 2005, at his home after a two-year illness. Born October 25, 1943, in Ashland, he was the son of Robert D. and Betty Louise Shank Ihrig. As a young boy, Bob was very active in the Boy Scouts. Before the age of 14, he achieved the three highest honors in the scouting program. He was tapped into the Order of the Arrow, received the God and Country Award and then earned the rank of Eagle Scout. While in high school, he was very active in music. He was in the band choir and participated in high school musical productions all four years. During the summers, he played in the famous All-Ohio Band at the Ohio State Fair. Bob served on the East Ohio conference youth executive council of the Evangelical United Brethren Church E.U.B. as the editor of the conference newspaper. During his senior year, he was elected President of the Ashland City youth executive council of churches. Bob attended Ashland College where he was once again involved in the music programs. While there he was a member of the band and choir and became student director of the College band when he was a senior. Along with his wife, Sharon, he owned Ihrig Floral. They enjoyed over 30 years of floral designing and then co-operating and managing their own business. When they retired from the floral business in 1997, Bob and Sharon became the managers of Agape Acres-a park for retirees-until his illness with cancer forced his retirement in 2004. Bob was a member of Christ United Methodist Church where he was a longtime member of the church choir. He was a past member of the Worship committee, Council of Ministries, and Pastor Parish committee. He taught the seventh and eighth grade Sunday school class with his wife and together they served as the family coordinators for many years. Bob has also been named Ashland's Mr. Parade several times by the Ashland Times-Gazette. He was the Parade Marshall, organizing and running all parades in Ashland for 25 years. He organized parades such as the Halloween, Christmas, Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame, Memorial Day and the Bicentennial parade of 1976. Beginning in 1962, he designed and built all the official floats for the parades including the queen's floats for the Halloween, Christmas, Balloon Festival and Ashland Sesquicentennial parade, as well as the Santa float for the Christmas parade.

Besides his love and passion for parades, he was very involved in many area organizations including the Ashland Masonic Lodge F. & A.M. #151, Ashland order of the Eastern Star *92, former member and officer in the Ashland Jaycees, former officer of the Ashland Little League and Ashland Soccer Association. He was president of the PTO of both Taft and Montgomery Elementary schools. Bob was a former member of the parent's advisory committee at Ashland Junior High School. He was a member of the restoration committee for McDowell Auditorium. He served as member of the Board of Directors for the Ashland County Humane Society. For 25 years, he was on the Board of Directors of Ashland County Cancer Society serving as President of the board his last 10 years. Bob was a member of the Noon Lion's Club, the Ashland Chamber of Commerce and former member of the Ashland Downtown Merchants Association. He served for many years on the Miss Ashland scholarship pageant committee. In 2003, Bob was appointed by the Ashland Health Department to the newly created health district licensing council representing manufactured home parks in Ashland County.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Ann McClelland Ihrig; three sons and two daughters-in-law, David Robert and Jessica Ihrig of Medina, John Robert Ihrig of Anderson, Ind., and Michael Robert and Lyndsie Ihrig of Canton; and two brothers and sisters-in-law, Dr. William and Robbie Ihrig of Ashland and Dan and Nancy Ihrig of Medina. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son in 1970.

Friends may call at the Ashland Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, Tuesday, August 9, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. where Ashland Masonic Lodge #151 will conduct services at 8:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home, officiated by Rev. James Cox and Rev. Don Earlenbaugh. Burial will follow in Ashland Cemetery.