EASTBURN, Benjamin Ralph 1901 - 1966

EASTBURN, FAIR, BENNETT, VERNON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/19/2021 at 19:04:07

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Monday, January 24, 1966
Front Page, Columns 1 and 2, and
Page 6, Column 7

Ralph EASTBURN, Local Bank President, Dies

Ralph EASTBURN, 64, local banker and past president of the Iowa Bankers association, died suddenly about 11:45 a.m. Sunday at his home, 306 E. Broadway. His death was caused by a heart attack.

Last rites will be Tuesday, Jan. 25, at the First Lutheran church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Donald E. Baustian officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery. The body will be taken from the Raymond funeral home to the church a short time prior to the services.

EASTBURN, a former bank examiner, served as president of the Iowa Bankers association during the year 1961. He was elected to the post during the organization's annual meeting held in Des Moines on Oct. 26, 1960.

He presided over the 75th annual convention held in Des Moines in October, 1961.

46 Years

EASTBURN's sudden and untimely death climaxed a career in banking which spread over a span of 46 years, 32 years of that time in Fairfield.

The son of a farmer, EASTBURN was born in Keokuk county and was graduated from the Delta high school. He attended St. John's Military college, Delafield, Wis, where he graduated with a major in business administration.

While in college he was particularly impressed with a course in banking and banking law. Enjoyment of this course led to his decision to become a banker.

He began his banking career in 1920. His first position was bookkeeper in the Farmers Trust and Savings bank in Charles City, Ia.

In 1924 he moved to the People's Savings Bank at Delta where he was named assistant cashier.

In 1932 he joined the Iowa State Banking department and remained with that agency until 1939. He was assigned to Fairfield in 1934 as examiner in charge of two banks which had been closed by the depression.

He left the banking department in 1939 and was named executive vice president of the Iowa State Bank and Trust company. On Oct. 23, 1942, he was named bank president, the position he held at the time of his death.

Growth

During the years he has served as the bank's president it has enjoyed continued growth and improvement. The present new and modern bank building was erected in 1954 under his guidance, and the firm is now in the process of planning a new and modern drive-in facility at the corner of Fourth and Burlington. Work on the project is to begin after March 1.

During the past several years EASTBURN has served on the executive council of the Iowa Bankers association, and has also served on the executive council of the American Bankers association.

He is a member of St. Peters Episcopal church of Fairfield, a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Des Moines Consistory and Kaaba Shring Temple of Davenport. He is also a former trustee of the Fairfield Elks lodge, former board member of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Rotary club.

Born in 1901

B. Ralph EASTBURN was born May 13, 1901, at Sigourney, the son of Ben and Pearl FAIR EASTBURN. He was reared and educated at Delta, Iowa

He was united in marriage on Dec. 27, 1922, at Delta, to Rachel BENNETT.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Ben and Charles, Fairfield, three grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. R. O. VERNON, Keosauqua.

~~~~

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, January 24, 1966
Page 7, Columns 5 and 6

The First National Bank
in Fairfield

WILL BE CLOSED
TUESDAY, JAN. 25

From

10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

In Respect To

MR. RALPH EASTBURN

Late President of the

Iowa State Bank
& Trust Co.

Whose Funeral Services
Are At This Time

~~~~
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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 4th.074. Wife Rachel died in 1989 and was buried with him.