Obituaries

Hilary “Chuck” Jessie Wiggins, age 92, of Pickford, Michigan, died on July 16, 2023, at the White-Whiles Home in Rudyard, Michigan. He was born on May 24, 1931, in Gastonia, North Carolina, to Jessie Wilburn and Florence Webb (Messer) Wiggins.

Chuck lived in Gastonia until he was six years old, and then went to live with his grandparents in Whitter, North Carolina, until he joined the United States Air Force at the age of 16 years old. Chuck had four children with his first wife, and they traveled around the world; he served in Japan, England, and then finished his Air Force career of twenty years as a Master Sergeant at the Kincheloe Air Force Base in Michigan. Once he retired from the military, he returned to North Carolina and married Darlene (Harrison) Waybrant on July 3, 1969, in Bryson City, North Carolina. In 1975, they bought their beautiful farm on the hill and Chuck brought his “baby” back to Pickford to be closer to her family.

Chuck was a member of the American Legion, Air Force Sergeants Association, Pickford Lions Club, and the VFW. He was previously the Pickford Township Trustee and Supervisor from the 1990’s until 2008.

Chuck loved hunting, fishing, vegetable gardening, farming, traveling to North Carolina in the winter with Darlene, playing the guitar, and rocking all his grandbabies and great grandbabies on his belly in the rocking chair.

Chuck is survived by his daughter, Sandy Lancester of Olympia, Washington; sons, “Chuckie” (Donizetti) Wiggins Jr. of Modesto, California, and Rudy (Jeannie) Wiggins of Ralston, Oklahoma; stepsons, Ken (Sintia) Waybrant, and Randy (Joanne) Waybrant of Pickford, and stepdaughter, Peggy (Steve) McConkey of Pickford; twenty grandchildren; forty-four great-grandchildren; twelve great-great-grandchildren with another one expected in September; brothers, Ted (Carol) Wiggins, Richard Wiggins, and Wilburn Wiggins; sisters, Shirley (Dennis) Parker, and Vicky Wiggins; and special friends, the Joel Gervais family.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Darlene; daughter, Sheila (J.D.) Hensley; sister, Dorothy Lee; and brother-in-law Jene Pryor.

A Visitation will be held at Galer Funeral Homes in Pickford, Michigan on Monday, July 24th, from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Services start at 1:00 PM and will be officiated by Pastor Tim Bashore.

Final resting place will be at Cottle Cemetery in Pickford, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Pickford Lions Club, P.O. Box 242 Pickford, MI 49774.