C.W. Bigbie (12-20-14) service 12-23-14

C.W. Bigbie was born in Frost, Texas, on Oct. 23, 1925, the first son of the late Ernest Jesse and Ethel Beckham Bigbie.
On July 17, 1954, he was united in marriage to Betty Ann Cromwell, who survives.
Mr. Bigbie served his country in the United States Navy during World War II where he received a Victory Medal and European African ME Area Star. He was aboard the USS Marblehead. On a mission to get troops home to New York City in time for Christmas, many men perished when they encountered a terrible storm in the North Atlantic. This loss of life affected him for many years to come.
After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946, he worked as a surveyor for the Rural Development program, bringing electricity to rural areas in the south. He left this position to return to his homestead to help his ailing father work on the family farm.
Mr. Bigbie began his career with the U.S. Postal Service when an opportunity arose to obtain the position of postmaster at Olive Hill. He held this position from 1963 to 1971. He continued his postal career as a rural mail carrier in the cities of Olive Hill, Good Springs and Savannah, Tennessee. He retired from the postal service in 1985 and once again became a full-time farmer. For the rest of his life he worked tirelessly to preserve, expand and involve the next generations of Bigbie’s in his father’s farm. From this he never retired.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Savannah.
Mr. Bigbie departed this life on Saturday, Dec. 20, in Savannah, at the age of 89 years, 1 month, and 27 days.
In addition to his wife Betty of 60 years, he is survived by one daughter, Retha Young and her husband Greg of Savannah; two sons, Ernie Bigbie and his wife Norma of Olive Hill, and Barry Bigbie and his wife Tammy of Hohenwald; and one son-in-law, Jimmy P. Adams; six grandchildren, Adrian Bigbie and his wife Sabrina, Jonathan Adams and his wife Kristin, Abby Alexander and her husband Josh, Cassie Benson and her husband Brock, Billy Bigbie and Hassie Bigbie; five great-grandchildren, Ashton Bigbie, Alex Adams, Brody Alexander, Sadie Alexander and Kandler Benson; two brothers, John Bigbie and his wife Betty of Demotte, Indiana, and Gene Bigbie of Kouts, Indiana; two sisters, Faye Hickman of Loganville, Georgia, and Carolyn Phillips of Centerville, Tennessee; and a host of nieces, nephews, and two step-grandsons.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Libby Bigbie Adams; and four sisters, Frances Chance, Evelyn Valentine, Mary Emma Sain and Jessie McNeill.
Memorial donations may be made to the Darryl Worley Foundation, 325 Main Street, Savannah, Tennessee 38372.
Services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m., at Shackelford Chapel in Savannah with Greg Young officiating. Burial followed in Memory Gardens at Savannah.