Obituary | James "Ricky" Ronald BoBo | Bradshaw & Range Funeral Home PC (2024)

James Ronald BoBo, affectionately called “Ricky,” was born into this world on November 10, 1958, at 1:46 pm and entered into eternity and Chapter Invisible on February 17, 2023, to be present with the Lord, welcomed by family and friends. He was born to proud parents Melvin L. and Billie D. (Bankhead) BoBo Jr. in Waukegan, Illinois. Ricky was the second oldest of four siblings: Melvin III, Kerry L., and Larry. Preceding him in death were his parents, Melvin L. and Billie D. BoBo Jr., and his brother Kerry L.

These four boys, Binky, Ricky, Baby Kerry, and Larry (Goo-Goo) were known around town as the BoBo Boys. Ricky was born with a skin condition known as eczema, a skin rash that caused him to scratch his skin to alleviate intense itching. Anytime Ricky played, wrestled, ran, rode his bike, or sweated in the grass, he would scratch until he bled. The kids in our neighborhood would find it funny and call him names, so Ricky developed a defense strategy of being quick-witted and sharp-tongued and could verbally retaliate, resolving the childish verbal attacks so well that no one wanted to challenge his sharp tongue. This true characteristic of retaliating against peer pressure became his defense mechanism and allowed him the pleasure of making people laugh.

Ricky’s ability to crack jokes on people before they could say one or two words or after they had done something that allowed him to gain an edge to make everyone laugh was now becoming a polished skill, his trademark he honed until his last breath.

This made Ricky competitive, especially with his brother Melvin, whom everyone called Binky. Everything his brother Binky did, Ricky was born to match and be competitive in all phases of his life.

Ricky easily made friends with everyone in the neighborhood and made you laugh each time he saw you. Ricky had a huge heart. If you were his friend, then you were his friend for life. You could count on his big smile.

Ricky attended Happy Day Nursery in Waukegan, Central School, Neal Jr. High School, and North Chicago Community High School in North Chicago, Illinois. He played football for four seasons and wrestled for four years in high school. His greatest love was playing in the band, where he excelled at playing bass clarinet. Ricky graduated from North Chicago Community High School in 1976 and received a scholarship to Kentucky State University. In 1978, he transferred to Illinois State University, majoring in Accounting. In the Fall of 1980, he was on the first line to pledge at the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Illinois State University. In the fall of 1982, Ricky transferred to Tuskegee Institute to join his brothers, Melvin and Kerry, and soon, Larry. He graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science.

Ricky’s accounting degree was the mainstay of his life, and it took him through many companies and positions as he accumulated an impressive resume of work experience that always caught the eyes of resourceful recruiters across the nation. Over a span of almost forty years, Ricky worked as an Accountant for some of the top Fortune 500 companies in the world, including Abbott Laboratories, Baxter, Cardinal Health, Hospira, Johnson Controls, and Liberty Military Housing. His roles and job titles were quite impressive as he began; Ricky rose through the ranks despite the pragmatic racism Black men saw and experienced in corporate America, from entry-level Accountant, Plant Financial Analyst to Senior Financial Analyst, and finally to Senior Accountant.

Ricky’s most significant roles were Christian, Father, DaD, Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, and Friend. At an early age, Ricky accepted God into his life and Jesus Christ as his Savior at Mt. Sinai Institutional Baptist Church under the late Reverent W.D. Kilgore. The highlight of his life was the birth of his son, Ricky Lezar Wright-BoBo. Ricky had a loving, devoted relationship with his son.

Ricky was truly a gentle giant, devoted Dad, loving Son and Brother, Uncle, Cousin, and life-long friend. He had the blessed and uncanny ability to see the best in everyone, young and old, and make them smile and feel his warmth of God’s Love.

Ricky leaves to cherish his memory: his son, LiL Ricky; two brothers, Melvin, III, and Larry; a host of nieces and nephews, including Melvin IV; a host of cousins, including Bonnie and Laverne; a host of friends, including Alicia, Boyce, Karolyn, & Debra; the residents of "Top of the World” senior residence, including Donna “Girl”; the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., including his K.A. line brothers; and the list of unnamed souls he touched through his jovial personality, huge smile, and embracing laughter.

WE WILL MISS YOU – RICKY!!!

GOD has you forever…

Be at Peace..,

A Celebration of His Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 9, 2024 at the Mt. Moriah Christian Center Church 524 10th Street, Waukegan, IL. Bishop Solomon Smith, Officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park Cemetery, Zion, IL. Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M.

THE IN PERSON ELECTRONIC GUESTBOOK MAY BE SIGNED NOW BY UTILIZING THE LINK

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IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND.

(the online guestbook is below which is different from the in person electronic guestbook)

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