The following account of his life and death is from the Bollinger County Banner Press. "It became known here this week that the man who taught Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh to fly, and who died penniless and almost blind in Chicago a few days ago, was none other than Ira Biffle, native of the Patton community, and well known in Fredericktown and Madison County. A sister, Mrs. I.D. Francis, lives at Marble Hill now. Biffle, then a mere youth, left his Bollinger county home about 24 years ago to go out into the world and become one of America's "first pilots," and numbered among the most famous aviators of the age among his pupils. Biffle, as a mere boy, was a queer character, and was scarcely understood either by members of his family or by his friends. He was uncommunicative, and after leaving this vicinity seemed to have no desire to keep in touch with family and friends. For several years his health has been failing, and in recent months he has been nearly blind. At the height of his career, he is said to have accumulated more than $100,000, but died in abject poverty. Penniless and nearly blind, the once famous aviator passed away after suffering from nephritis (an infection of the kidney) and a heart ailment. With him as the end came was his wife. Shortly before his death he groped for her hands and mumbled, "I'm afraid I can't make it." His friends had moved him to the  hospital a few weeks ago when he was found, almost penniless, in a public hospital. Colonel Lindbergh, on learning of his former instructor's plight, was among the first to aid him. Mr. Biffle was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Biffle of near Patton and spent his first 18 years on the family farm. He left 24 years ago and had been heard from only at intervals since that time. As early as 1915 he became a skilled pilot, and was known as a leading aviator when planes were "crates." Mr. Biffle first went to Lincoln, Nebraska, and became an expert at handling planes, which were also known then as "sky coffins." He was an instructor and an early air mail pilot. Lindbergh, in his book "We", referred to Biffle as "the most hard-boiled instructor the Army ever had during the war." He became a member of the Army Air Corps at San Diego when it numbered but four persons. It was while Mr. Biffle was at Lincoln that Colonel Lindbergh first appeared for flying lessons. The veteran aviator's comment later was that  Lindbergh was a queer looking kid. He first appeared at the field without a
 change of clothing, wearing a leather jacket, a pair of kahaki pants, a shirt and cap. He was a darned good student--intelligent, quick, and nevry, much above the average." According to his death certificate, his last residence was at 7460 South Vincennes in Chicago. It gives his birth place as Centralia, Illinois. I'm assuming this is in error because it also give Centralia as the place of birth for both his parents. He was employed by C.H. Wallgreen just prior to his death. The death certificate also lists Oakwoods Cemetery as the place of burial (April 10, 1934); it has been assumed he was buried at Arlington Cemetery (Section 17, Grave 22,625) in Washington,