Wesley Bertie Wigington, Jr., 97, of Huntsville, passed away July 23rd at home, after a long battle with congestive heart failure. Mr. Wigington was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and moved to Huntsville in 1959 as part of the space program at Redstone Arsenal.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley Bertie Wigington, Sr. and Josie Pearl Wigington, and his wife of 69 years, Jo Esther Bradley Wigington. He is survived by his son James Robert “Bob” Wigington (Doris); daughters, Carolyn Jo “Kay” Powell (Jerry) and Paula Diane Cook (Hugh); grandchildren, Jennifer Lynne Powell Decker (Patrick), Jeffrey Thomas Powell (Amanda), Candace Marie Cook, Courtney Leigh Cook, and Cayla Diane Cook; and great-grandchildren, Addison Jane Powell, Manning Linn Decker, Anna Katherine Powell, Emma Gaines Virginia Decker, and Wellyn Wesley Decker.
Mr. Wigington received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from Midwestern State University. He retired from Boeing and Chrysler Corporation. He was a World War II veteran serving in the Army Air Corps, a lifelong member of the American Legion, a perpetual member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 32 degree Mason, a Master Mason of the Grand Lady of Texas and a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church
A beloved father and role model, Mr. Wigington was a lifelong learner, taking every opportunity to teach himself a new skill. He was a Sunday School Superintendent, certified Storm Spotter, Chairman of First Aid for the Madison County Red Cross, a first aid instructor, a Civil Defense instructor, and for the past seventeen years a volunteer counselor preparing taxes for the AARP Tax-Aide program. Wes and Jo received the 2015 Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame AARP Volunteer Award.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, July 26, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The service will immediately follow in the chapel with the Rev. Mac Buttram officiating. Burial will be in at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Huntsville, AL.
