Joseph Gregory Wigginton

Joseph Gregory Wigginton, age 79, passed away December 26, 2012 in Pasadena, CA. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but lived the majority of his years in California and Nevada. He was the first of 5 children born to Joseph C. and Mary Wigginton. Joe spent his teenage years in Huntington Beach. He was a graduate of Huntington Beach High School and attended Orange Coast College. He was a champion swimmer, water polo player, an avid surfer, and served on the Huntington Beach Lifeguard force for five years. He met and married Billie Ruth Rothrock in Pasadena, CA while working for Sears. They were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978. He was a credit executive with Sears, taking the family all over the state of California, and for a short time in Seattle and Las Vegas. After his early retirement from Sears, he worked in industry, and eventually became the owner of his own rebar placement business, Bonneville Steel, and later founded Titan Electronics. Joe loved to fly, and had been a private pilot for 40 years. For many years he actively enjoyed amateur radio. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had the opportunity to serve a full-time mission with his wife in the Denver Temple. He was much loved, and will always be missed. He is survived by his wife, Billie Ruth, children Joseph Wigginton (Cindy), Glenda Edmunds (Richard) and Cynthia Gillette; 9 grandchildren, Heather Raygoza (Brian), Joseph W. Wigginton, Kathryn Wigginton, Rich S. Edmunds (Cassidee), Michael T. Edmunds, Kevin A. Edmunds, David A. Edmunds, James S. Gillette and Erik Gillette; siblings Thomas, Mary Munsil (Bob), David, and Martha Love (Richard) as well as eight nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son-in-law, Steven Gillette and his sister-in-law, Barbara Wigginton. The funeral will be held Saturday January 12, 2012 at 10 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 770 Sierra Madre Villa Ave. in Pasadena, CA. Burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, CA. Joseph gave regularly to the Salvation Army and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Services. In the past year, he received exceptional care at Huntington Memorial Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the above charities.