David Lee Wigginton

GLENDALE – On January 28, 2019, David Lee

Wigginton passed away at age 80 after a three-year battle with brain cancer with his wife of 58 years,

Sarah, at his side. He was predeceased by his mother,

Evelyne Smith; his step-father, Welcome D. Smith; a sister, Sue Wilson; a brother, Leonard Wigginton; and an infant daughter. He is survived by his widow, Sarah Naill Wigginton, whom he married on September 5, 1960; his sons Dr. Stephen A. Wigginton, Long Beach, CA; J. Michael Wigginton and wife Colleen, Emmitsburg, MD; and Christopher

D. Wigginton and wife Suzanne, Phoenix, AZ; a sister, Joy Bailey ,Goose Creek, SC ; a brother Pete Wigginton, Livingston, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.

David was born on June 13, 1938, in Palestine, TX. He graduated from Vidalia, LA, high school in 1957. During the summers prior to high school graduation and to pay for college expenses, he worked as an oil field roustabout, workover rig hand, and derrick man.

David earned an AA degree from Alvin, TX, Community College in 1959, a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962 and an MS degree in Mechanical/Nuclear Engineering in 1964 from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. While working on the latter two degrees, he also served as the radiation protection technician for LSU.

Following his graduation, he relocated to North Augusta, SC, where he began his federal career at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission’s Savannah River Plant. In 1966, he and his family moved to Frederick, MD, where they remained until his retirement from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In 1992, the NRC awarded him the Meritorious Achievement Award for excellence in Project Management, its highest award to an employee. In 1999, he retired from the NRC with over 34 years of Federal service. The Wiggintons relocated to Glendale, AZ, in 2000.

When his sons were growing up, David was an active coach in junior and senior league youth baseball. In addition, he was active in many civic organizations. As a member of the Frederick, MD, Jaycees, he served as director of several women’s track and field events – most notably – the 1972 Women’s Track and Field Olympic Trials held in Frederick. He was a director in the local Association for Retarded Children and launched the Special Olympics in Western MD. He also served on the MD Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness.

In their retirement, David and Sarah enjoyed travelling, finally seeing the remaining of the unvisited 50 States and many foreign countries, including “the land down under.”

David’s family wish to express their thanks and gratitude to Hospice of the Valley for all of their assistance and support, and a special thanks to Lisa Brockelman, whose visits were permeated with care and humor and left us with smiles on our faces.