Mr. James "Jim" Wiggins

James Leland “Jim” Wiggins, 98, of Easley, SC, passed away Monday May 21, 2018 at The Willows of Easley. Jim was born November 3, 1919 in Central, SC to the late William Lee and Lillie Kennamore Wiggins. After graduation from Easley High School he played semi-pro baseball. In 1940, he joined the US Army to become a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Jim served heroically in World War II, jumping with the 505 PRI of the 82nd into Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His unit jumped into Ste. Mere Eglise which was the first town to be liberated on the Western Front. He went on to fight the invasion of Holland in Nijmegan, Trois-Ponts, Belgium and The Battle of the Bulge. His unit also liberated the Wobelein Concentration Camp in Lugwiglust, Germany on the way to Berlin. Jim was the recipient of three purple hearts.

After the war he returned to Easley to marry his high school sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth Spearman. He began work for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. This career took the Wiggins family from Akron to Pt. Pleasant, WV and Scottsboro, AL.

He is predeceased by his wife Mary and his son, Jim Jr. and was the last living member of his immediate family. He is survived by his son Don Wiggins (Shelia) of Richmond, VA; his daughter Kathleen Wiggins Hane of Six Mile, SC; and his daughter-in-law May Cheek Wiggins of Clarksville, TN; his four grandchildren, Kelley Wiggins of Knoxville, TN, Chris Wiggins of Knoxville, TN, Rachelle Wiggins Blue of Bumpass, VA, Matt Wiggins of Richmond, VA, as well as eleven great-grandchildren.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the entire staff of The Willows and special friend Ross Crum of Easley. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Arial United Methodist Church. The family will be at the home of Kathleen Hane.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday May 25, 2018, at Arial United Methodist Church Cemetery, with the Reverend Roger Gwinn officiating and military honors present. Jim will be laid to rest next to his beloved Mary.