Funeral for Captain (Ret.) US Army Doyle B. Bigham, 87, of Lawton, Oklahoma, will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Al Potts, pastor, officiating.
CPT Bigham died on Wednesday, December 31st, 2008, in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Visitation will be from 3 until 5 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2008, at the funeral home.
Service is under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.
Inurnment will follow at a later time in the Bigham Chapel Columbarium, at the First United Methodist Church.
He was born on June 9, 1921, in Versailles, Ohio to Walter Haven and Myrtle Belle Harman Bigham. He graduated from Versailles High School in 1939 and entered the US Army in 1940, with the 37th Ohio National Guard and served at several stateside posts and in North Africa and Southern France, Germany and Korea.
He served a tour of duty in enlisted status and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve in 1948 and entered active duty as a 1st Lieutenant in 1950. He served a tour of duty with the 43rd Infantry Division in Camp Pickett, Virginia and Germany. He served as a tour of duty with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea as a Battery Commander of a Mortar Battery, 34th Infantry Battle Group 1957-1958. Captain Bigham served several tours of duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma starting in 1944. He retired as a Captain in the Artillery after 20 years of military service at Fort Sill on December 31, 1960. He was awarded numerous awards and decorations for this tour of service including the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze stars, the American Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
After retirement, he was employed by the US Civil Service from 1966 until 1983, serving as Plans Officer, Directorate of Industrial Operations and also as Fort Sill Radiological Protection Officer. He was awarded the Commander's Award for Civilian Service and Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service. He was awarded a French Diplome for Service in France in 1944-1945, by Secretariat d'Etat a'la Defense. He retired from Civil Service at Fort Sill on June 20, 1983 with a total of 36 years and 11 months Federal Service.
CPT Bigham had lived in Lawton, Oklahoma since 1958. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church serving as Lay Leader for over 20 years, as Chairman of the Official Board in 1968, as Church Historian and on other committees and positions. He served on the Lawton District Board of Missions and treasurer of the Lawton District and the Wesley Foundation. He was a member of the Lawton Camp of Gideons International since 1980. He also was involved with delivering for the Mobile Meals, he served on the Comanche County Election Board for many years. He was active with the Cameron Campus Ministries and had served as treasurer.
Doyle was married to Marlene Schilling on January 18, 1944. This marriage was blessed with four children and almost 65 years of growing and loving together.
Survivors include his wife of the home; three daughters and sons in law, Rebecca Wing Leppig-Buck and Art Buck of Lawton, Oklahoma, Bonnie Sue and Arnie Olson of Fargo, North Dakota, Betty Jo and Larry Moore of Houston, Texas, and a son, Robert Paul Bigham of Lawton, Oklahoma; a sister, Betty Bigham of Versailles, Ohio; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Teri Louise and Jordy Bryce of Belton, Texas, Michael and Kimberly Wing of Dallas, Texas, Larry Brent and Andrea Horrell Moore and Brad Allen Moore, all of Houston, Texas, Robert Scott Bigham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jamie and Nicole Hodgson of Port Angeles, Washington, and Christy Lynn Hodgson of Las Vegas, Nevada; 9 great grandchildren, Austin Michael Wing and Alexis Michelle Wing, both of Dallas, Texas, Kaylee Ann Moore and Hunter James Moore, both of Houston, Texas, Sterling Shayde Bigham and Chloe Brianne Bigham, both of Arlington, Texas, and Gabriella Grace and Andrew James Hodgson, and Victoria Catherine Scurich all of Port Angeles, Washington; two step grandchildren, Jessica Mae and her husband, Brian Miles of Buffalo, Minnesota, and Jared Scott Olson of St. Michael, Minnesota; and one step great grandson, Noah Thomas Miles, of Buffalo, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Paul Bigham and Richard Dean Bigham, and a sister, Eileen Bigham.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Foundation, 2602 NW Ferris, Lawton, OK 73505, or to The Gideons International, PO Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214.