Lt. Col. Ret. Roy Lee Bigler Send a condolence note

Laconia-----Lt. Col. Ret. Roy Lee Bigler, 76, of  #7 Wildwood Road, Laconia, NH, passed away Monday, March 24, 2008 after a short bout with cancer.

The son of Clarence and Laura (Jackson) Bigler, he was born March 10, 1931 in New Salisbury, Indiana.

Entering the U.S. Air Force, he completed Aviation Cadet Training in San Antonio, Texas in 1952. Roy later went on to teach Navigation until 1956 at Goodfella Air Force Base in Texas.  He completed pilot training in 1957 going on to graduate from Squadron Officer school in 1959. Being stationed in numerous places in the U. S. flying B-47s and B-52s, he eventually logged in over 7,000 flight hours.  In 1966, while attending the University of Omaha, he received a B.S. in business, later retiring in 1972 and moving to Kensington, NH where he was involved in the restoration of colonial houses and real estate.

Survivors include his wife of fifty years, Joan L. McCarty-Bigler, of Laconia; a son, Mark D. Bigler, of Laconia; a daughter, Lori A. Nava, of San Diego, California; six grandchildren, Melissa Bigler, of Laconia; Kyle Bigler and Seth Clifford both of Barnstead, and Alex Lopez, Eric Lopez and Miguel Nava all of San Diego; two brothers, Wilbur Bigler of New Albany, Indiana; and Chester Bigler of Plymouth, Indiana; one sister, Helen Rainbolt, of Clarksville, Indiana and several nephews and nieces.  In addition to his parents, Roy was predeceased by a brother, Paul Bigler.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, March 31, 2008 from 4:00-6:00PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H.

A private graveside service will be held at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, Daniel Webster Highway,Boscawen, N. H.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Health & Hospice, Inc., 780 North Main Street, Laconia, N. H. 03246 or to the Concord Regional Visiting Nurses Association, PO Box 1797, Concord, NH 03301.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is in charge of the arrangements.