Wilbur Paul Higdon

Wilbur Paul Higdon of Fairview Heights, IL born July 5, 1930 in East St. Louis, was reunited with his wife and children in eternal life on Sunday, May 30, 2021 comforted by his three granddaughters, Erin, Andrea, and Nikki.

Wilbur retired from the US Postal Service after 35 years, where he received numerous awards for superior accomplishments. He served in the US Army as part of the 813th Engineer Aviation Battalion in Fort Richardson, Alaska during the Korean War.

Wilbur was a sports enthusiast. He played minor league baseball for the Cairo Dodgers and was recruited by the St. Louis Browns prior to serving the Army, where he continued playing. He was an avid “St. Louis Browns fan changed to a St. Louis Cardinals fan”, but his true passion was watching his grandchildren play sports – never missing a game.

Love and laughter surrounded those who were in Wilbur’s presence. Despite the pain and sorrow of his losses, he always chose love and cherished his time with those he held dear. Anyone who met him was embraced by his smile, laugh, and kindness. He has touched so many lives and will truly be missed.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years Rosetta “Sis” Higdon, nee Green, whom he married on November 28, 1953; three children, Gary, Susan Enright, and Cynthia. His parents, Earl J. and Lena, nee Hildebrandt, Higdon; brothers, Earl and Clifford; his sisters, Ruth Carrico and Mildred “Mickie” Cromer.

Surviving are his son-in-law Tom (Jeanie) Enright; grandchildren Nikki (Trevor), nee Higdon, Jones, James Higdon (Logan Ehlmann), Erin (David), nee Enright, Perez, Andrea (Eric), nee Enright, Muskopf, Tyler Enright, and Chase Enright; great grandchildren Logan, Luke, and Kennedy Jones, Liam Perez, Emerson and Auden Muskopf; his great grandpups Hank, Bentley, and Brady; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, tributes may be made to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center or Homers for Health.