Billy Jack Bigham
January 20, 1930 – December 3, 2022
Billy Jack Bigham was born in Wilson, Oklahoma, January 20, 1930, to Sam & Edith Norris Bigham.
Bill was the oldest of four children, he had aunts and uncles that adored him, and he liked nothing better than playing with his dogs and toy tractors. He excelled in sports, playing football and running track. Most of his high school years were spent in California, where his father built ships for WWII. Returning to Wilson to finish out high school, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy upon graduation.
Throughout his Navy career he was assigned to duty in the South Pacific; the Navy recruiting station in Oklahoma City; the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile; the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. It was during his assignment in Oklahoma City where he would meet the love of his life at a YWCA social event, Mary Jane Fennel. They were married July 6, 1957 at the First Christian Church in Oklahoma City.
In 1970, Bill retired from active duty and returned to Oklahoma. Bill remained in the reserve another seven years to retire fully with 30 years of service, at the rank of Master Chief. Through his Navy career, Bill had been assigned 12 duty stations, served on seven war ships; attended six Navy specialty schools, and received 13 commendation medals.
Upon returning to Oklahoma and settling in Edmond, Bill went to work with the Oklahoma Employment Securities Commission and also enrolled in Oklahoma City Southwestern College to obtain his advanced degree. Bill stayed with the OESC for 30 years, retiring in 2000.
Bill loved to travel from a young age and while the Navy afforded him the ability to visit 5 continents during his career, his position with the state of Oklahoma allowed him to travel throughout the United States taking Mary with him on many of his trips. After retirement from the state Bill & Mary continued to travel to new places, one of his favorites being Alaska. Up until 6 months ago he was still talking about taking another trip to see the glaciers again.
Bill was also a 32nd Degree Mason.
Preceding him in death was his wife of 63 years, Mary Jane Fennel Bigham; his parents and two sisters, JoAnn Lawson and Rosemary Marshall.
Bill is survived by his son Craig and wife Julie of Edmond, daughter Pam and husband Marty Fulk of Oklahoma City, grandson Cole Bigham of Houston, Texas and brother Sammy Bigham of Durant, Oklahoma and a countless number of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family would especially like to thank the staff at Iris Memory Care of Edmond, especially Ty & Heather; and the staff of Frontier Hospice who watched over Bill like one of their own family members up until the very end.
Funeral services will be held at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, Oklahoma at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022 with interment following at 2:30 in Prague, Oklahoma. Viewing will be Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Billy’s name to the Alzihiemer’s Association by Clicking Here