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William 'Bill' Barton Bigham
Homer resident William "Bill" Barton Bigham died Friday, Nov.
28, 2003, after a long illness at the Fern Ridge TLC Assisted Living Home in
Homer. He was 80.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Homer Elks Lodge No. 2127, 215 W. Jenny Lane in Homer.
Willie Flyum, exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, will officiate. Mr. Bigham's
ashes will be scattered in Kachemak Bay.
Mr. Bigham was born Feb. 8, 1923, in Hyder. No
school existed in Hyder, so he went back and forth across the border to attended
school in Stewart, British Columbia. Mr. Bigham lived in Juneau for a short time
when his parents moved there. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard on July 29, 1943,
and served until he received an honorable discharge on Nov. 30, 1945.
Mr. Bigham lived in Skagway, working for the
White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad from 1946 through 1965. He also owned and
operated Bing's Café while he lived there. He moved to Anchorage and Fairbanks
and worked for the Alaska Railroad Company from 1966 to 1985. After which, he
retired from the Alaska Railroad Company and moved to Homer, where he resided
until his death.
Mr. Bigham was a life member and past exalted
ruler of the Elks Lodge in Skagway and a member of the American Legion and the
Pioneers of Alaska. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, gardening and cooking.
"Called 'Bing' by his Skagway cronies, dad was
an avid bowler. He also had a love of cooking, which he inherited from his dad.
He was very particular about how food was prepared and served. Bill and his
wife, Bonnie, who previously owned the House of Flowers in Fairbanks, enjoyed
fishing and picking berries. They took many trips in their motor home and added
their bounty to the large pantry they had. They also had a large vegetable
garden, plants and flowers everywhere. Dad will be greatly missed by his family
and special friends Ron and Anna Creasey and family," his family said.
Mr. Bigham was preceded in death by his parents
and his wife, Bonnie.
He is survived by his son and daughter in-law,
Bill Jr. and Marilyn Bigham of Markle, Ind.; daughter, Donna Everson of
Greenwater, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Dave Fry of Markle;
daughter, Lois Bigham of St. Joe, Ind.; first wife and mother of his children,
Linda Bigham of Skagway; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity
of the donor's choosing.
Arrangements were made by Homer Funeral Home.
Source: Peninsula Clarion, December 7, 2003
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