Wee Biggerstaff

W.E. Biggerstaff, Jr., 67-year-old Bonham native and long a prominent civic worker, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1978, in a Bonham hospital following an illness of several months.

Services will be held Friday afternoon, 3 o'clock, at the Wise Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Bud Hill, pastor of the First Christian Church, and the Rev. Mrs. Paul Campbell officiating.

Burial will be in Willow Wild Cemetery.

Known affectionately to his many friend as "Wee", Mr. Biggerstaff's name is prominently connected with many of Bonham's civic improvements, work he carried on quietly behind the scenes for many years, even before retiring in 1975 after 33 years as an engineer for Texas and Pacific Railroad.

He was a devout member of the First Christian Church and an active member for many years of the Masonic Lodge, through which he carried out many of his civic duties.

Probably the project on which he worked most ardently for years for the lodge was his chairmanship of the local program of Texas Public School Week. Each year he organized and directed the program of public recognition of the community's schools, which he proudly called as the best anywhere. Through his efforts each year, the schools, teachers and students received encouragement and special recognition.

He was a member of the Bonham airport board and for many years he waged an almost singlehanded battle for upgrading and inprovements for Jones Field because he envisioned the important role adequate airport facilities would be in Bonham's growth and industrial development. Many of the things he worked for have either been carried out or are in the process.

He also represented the Masonic Lodge as a member of the Willow Wild Cemetery and in the early 1970s he was the moving force in an extensive program of beautification and improvement at the cemetery, a project that included raising many thousands of dollars for extension and improvement of roads, fencing and many other of the needs that have beauty to the big cemetery.

Wee, Biggerstaff was a modest man, in most of the things he did he gave others the credit. For that reason, only those closest to him may ever know just how far his influence and work went in things good for the community he loved and devoted his energies' so many years.

Mr. Biggerstaff was born in Bonham on Nov. 19, 1911, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Biggerstaff. He attended Bonham schools and they became a great center of his gratitude and attention.

In Masonry, he was a member of Constantine Lodge No. 13 Commandry and was a Royal Arch Mason. Full Masonic services will be conducted at the graveside.

Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home at 321 West Ninth; four daughters, Mrs. Barbara Gore of Bonham, Mrs. Becky Wingo of Houston, Mrs. Patti Gault of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and Mrs. Lynn Holt of Oxnard, Calif.

Also surviving are two sisters, Miss Ruth Biggerstaff of Bonham and Mrs. H.E. Dye of Kansas City, Mo; seven grandchildren, Bill and Sally Gore, Debbie, Kelly and Brett Wingo, Carri Gault and Darius Holt, and one nephew, Harold Dye.

Pallbearers will be Doyle Hall, Floyd Blair, Bill Terry, Grant London, Aubrey McAlister, James Rodgers, M.H. Pace and Eddie Clayton.

Texas and Pacific employees will be honorary pallbearers.

The family will be at the Wise Funeral Home Friday night from 7 to 8:30 o'clock. They have requested that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society. — A.M