Ira Wiggins

Canton- Ira Joseph Wiggins- age 89 of the Cruso community died Monday, March 28, 2005 at Memorial Mission Hospital following an extended illness. He was a native of Swain County but spent most of his adult life in Buncombe and Haywood Counties. He was the last living son of William and Maggie Colvard Wiggins. He was preceded in death by brothers, Patrick, Marshall and Howard Wiggins and sisters, Willa Bell Stepp, Opal Griffith, Lois Wiggins and Frankie Mauney. Ira entered the CCC Corps in his early 20's and worked in highway construction prior to entering the Army Corps of Engineers in World War II. He served in England, the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach and followed the course of the war to Germany, building bridges and air fields. For his war efforts, he received four Bronze stars and the Bronze arrowhead, awarded to those who spearheaded divisions on Omaha Beach. His work and craft was brick and rock masonry in Buncombe and Haywood Counties. The last 13 years of his career was as a bricklaying instructor at Enka High School. He served as a deacon and teacher of Boys Junior Class at Edgewood Baptist Church in Enka, NC. He later attended East Fork Baptist Church. In addition to his wife of 57 years, Reba Burnett Wiggins, he is survived by three daughters, Myra Grant of Fletcher, Teri Ownbey and her husband, Vaughn of Arden and Kay Leath and her husband, John of Madison, GA.; two grandchildren, Tracy Proctor of Durham and Travis Jones of Candler; two great grandchildren, Megan and Crystal Jones of Canton. Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2005 at the Canton chapel of Wells Funeral Homes & Cremation Services with the Reverend Matt Pruett officiating. Burial will follow at New Cruso Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. Flowers or memorial gifts will be accepted for the Cruso Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Clarence Morrow, 73 Sharp Mountain Road, Canton, NC 28716

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