William Barclay Wigginton

December 30, 1931 - March 1, 2017

William ‘Bill’ Wigginton was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Calvin C. Wigginton and Elizabeth P. Fox. At Lower Marion High School in Pennsylvania, Bill was the staff artist on the school newspaper, a lightweight wrestler, and a skilled coxswain on the rowing team. He went on to study at Lafayette College where he earned a BS in Geology, wrestled in the 136 and 145lb classes, and in his Senior year, lettered as the high team scorer at attack position in Lacrosse. After graduation, Bill was recruited to the Marines during the Korean War and spent time in Vieques, Puerto Rico, where he trained troops for amphibious landings. From the Marines, Bill continued his studies at Penn State University where he earned a MS in Geology. This is also where he met and married Joanne Kirk in 1956 who he would remain married to until his passing. His education led him and family to Thailand where he helped to design the first highway from Bangkok to the Cambodian border. Upon returning to the United States, Bill decided that his geological skills would be best used in the San Francisco Bay Area where ‘If the soil is not falling off the hills, it’s sinking into the bay mud’. In California, Bill founded and was CEO of ENGEO, a geologic and engineering firm. ENGEO remains a leading force in the field. Later in life, Bill and Joanne relocated to Aptos, California, where Bill became very active in the Big Stick Surfing Association. He was named ‘Kahuna Kupuna’ as a distinguished elder among surfers. He was 82 at the time and actively surfed from age 62 to 82. Bill died of pulmonary fibrosis at home with Joanne by his side. He is survived by his wife, two sisters, Barbara and Libby, two sons, Doug and Robert, his daughter, Cynthia, and two grandchildren, Nicholas and Isabel. Tax-deductible donations may be made in Bill’s memory to: Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066.