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A memorial service for Dr. James F. Wygant is planned for 11 a.m. Friday, July 7, at Meadowwood Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Fla. A reception will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee.

Born Aug. 4, 1919, in Hornell, N.Y., to Harold and Esther Wygant, he passed away Saturday, June 17, 2006, in Houston. He has gone to rejoin his beloved wife Carol in a better place.

Jim graduated cum laude from Alfred University with a bachelor of science degree in ceramic engineering in 1941, and went to work for the Missouri Portland Cement Company in St. Louis. In 1943, he volunteered for the World War II draft. While in the Army and training at the University of Alabama, Jim met Carol Walker, a young civil engineering student. After a whirlwind wartime courtship, they married on July 3, 1944, beginning a lifelong partnership that lasted 54 years, until her death in 1998. Jim was honorably discharged in 1946 after serving overseas in North Africa. Returning to Alfred University after the war, Jim earned a master of science degree and then went on to MIT to take a doctorate in ceramic engineering in 1950. Jim worked for 30 years in research for Standard Oil of Indiana (later Amoco, now BP) in Chicago, Whiting, Ind. and Naperville, Ill. Dr. Wygant rose to director of corporate research and manager of corporate services at the Amoco Research Lab in Naperville, until he retired in 1979 to Tallahassee. Those who knew him as Dr. Wygant, as Jim or as Dad uniformly aspired to rise to his standard. And yet, he had the grace to make the humblest person feel as his peer. We are better for having known him.

Jim is survived by his brother, Foster Wygant of Cincinnati; his children, Margaret Marcum of Austin, Texas, Roger Wygant of Sandersville, Ga., Daniel Wygant of Fayetteville, Tenn., Susan Young of Houston, Charles Wygant of Tallahassee, James Wygant of Houston and Laurance Wygant of DuPont, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were made by Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, 850-877-8191.

(Published in The Daily Herald on July 2, 2006)

James married Carol Swain Walker 3 Jul 1944, Polk County, Florida, USA. Carol (daughter of Charles Nelson Walker and Nell Flora Kruse) was born 6 May 1924, Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA; died 11 Sep 1998, Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin, USA; was buried 21 Sep 1998, Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park - Tallahassee, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet]

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Carol S. Wygant, 74, 1306 Francisco Drive, Tallahassee, Fla., and summer resident of Lac du Flambeau, died Friday, Setp. 11, 1998, at Community Health Care Wausau Hospital.

Carol was a nationally certified flower show judge and landscape critic.

Survivors include her husband, James Wygant; two daughters, Susan (Randall) Young, Midland, Texas, and Margaret (Brad) Marcum of Austin, Texas; five sons, Laurence (Karen) Wygant, Portland, Ore., James (Carmella) Wygant, Houston, Texas, Charles Wygant, Tallahassee, Fla., Daniel (Natalie) Wygant, Fayetteville, Tenn., and Roger (Susan) Wygant, Tennille, Ga.; one sister, Lois (Ralph) Boland, Cassadega, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be Monday, Sept. 21, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Peterson Funeral Home, Wausau, is in charge of local arrangements.

(Published in The Wausau Daily Herald on September 15, 1998)

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Rev. Walker, 86, Dies In Hospital

The Rev. Charles Nelson Walker, 86, of Laguna Beach died Friday morning in a local hospital. He had been a resident of this area for the past 20 years coming here from Graceville.

Rev. Walker was a graduate of Stedson University in 1916 and a graduate of Newton Theological Seminary in 1922. He was ordained into the ministry in the late 1910's.

After retirement, he served as pastor of the 1st Baptist Church of Panama City Beach and the Fountain Green Hill Community Church of Fountain.

Rev. Walker and his late wife Nell Walker were among the original persons instrumental in starting the Baptist Bible Institute in 1943 which later moved to Graceville in 1953.

He is survived by his wife Nadine Walker, Laguna Beach, three daughters, Mrs. Ralph Boland, Colorado Springs, Colo., Mrs. John M. Guy, Laguna Beach, and Mrs. James F. Wygant, Naperville, Ill., 14 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, one brother, Hans Walker, Spartanburg, S.C.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the 1st Baptist Church of Panama City Beach with the Rev. James F. Southerland and the Rev. Thomas Stone officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens.

(Published in The Panama City News-Herald on February 5, 1977)

Charles married Nell Flora Kruse 7 Jan 1918, Volusia County, Florida, USA. Nell was born 24 Jun 1888, DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida, USA; died Oct 1965, Panama City, Bay County, Florida, USA; was buried , Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery - Panama City, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet]

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PROMINENT CITIZEN OF TITUSVILLE DIES

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John R. Walker, Father of George Walker of This City Is Claimed By Death

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TITUSVILLE, Aug. 5 - Funeral services for John R. Walker, president of the local civic league, and one of the most prominent citizens of Brevard county, who died suddenly Thursday night, will be held here Sunday afternoon. Mr. Walker, who was 58 years old, had held numerous municipal and county offices since coming here from South Carolina 34 years ago.

He had served as county school superintendent, chairman of the board of county commissioners, and mayor of Titusville Beach Company. He had presided at a meeting of the Civic League Thursday night and jocularly complained of the heat but appeared in his usual good health. He died a few minutes after returning home from the meeting. Death was caused by the bursting of a blood vessel near the heart.

Mr. Walker, who was prominent in various fraternal organizations, is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Hester Elizabeth Swain of Titusville, three sons and a daughter.

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Son in Miami

George Walker of Miami is a son of the deceased, and another son, Charles Walker, is residing in Boston, Mass. Mr. Walker was well known in Florida as the "father of the league" which was organized to build a bridge across the Indian river, connecting Titusville with the ocean, and to build a road to Orlando and another to Orsino on Merritt Island. The people ratified Mr. Walker's idea at the polls, voting the bods for the proposed improvements, and it is a marked coincidence that on the day of his death the Brevard county commissioners let the contract for the bridge and roads which he conceived.

(Published in The Miami Herald on August 5, 1921)



Obituary:

Sudden Death of Titusville's Most Prominent Citizen Last Wednesday Night

Was President of the Titusville Civic League, Postmaster of Titusville Six Years and Prominent in Fraternal Organizations

Every heart-beat of the late John Randall Walker was for the good of the people and the benefit of this community. He was Titusville's first citizen.

Before the Titusville Civic League meeting was called to order Wednesday night by President John R. Walker he joked with friends about the heat, but appeared in his usual good health. As a presiding officer he was a model, and he never appeared to better advantage than Wednesday night. An hour after the meeting he was dead, dying ten minutes after he reached his home. Dr. Stephens, who was called immediately, said death was caused by a burst blood vessel in the vicinity of the heart.

Mr. Walker was 58 years old; was born in Beaufort, S.C., July 27, 1863. He came to Titusville 34 years ago, and was married in 1889 to Hester Elizabeth Swain. He leaves his widow and three sons and one daughter: Chas. N. Walker of Boston, George R. Walker of Miami, Hans T. Walker of Fort Myers and Mrs. D. B. Chappelle of Punta Rossa; and one brother, Wm. R. Walker of South Jacksonville.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

At the time of his death Mr. Walker was superintendent of the Baptist Sunday-school and president of the Titusville Civic League; and on the night of his death was elected president of the Titusville Beach Co. He was postmaster of Titusville six years, resigning on July 1. He also served the people as county school superintendent, chairman of the board of county commissioners and mayor of Titusville.

Mr. Walker was especially prominent in fraternal organizations -- was a deputy grand chancellor in the Knights of Pythias, a Shriner and Knight Templar in the Masons, a past noble grand in the Odd Fellows, and a past council commander in the Woodmen of the World.

(Published in The Star Advocate on August 5, 1921)

John married Hester Elizabeth Swain 1 Jul 1889, Lakeland, Polk County, Florida, USA. Hester (daughter of Charles Jahue Swain and Mary Jane Crow) was born 26 Nov 1862, Jonesboro, Union County, Illinois, USA; died 15 Oct 1933, Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA; was buried 16 Oct 1933, Oaklawn Memorial Gardens - Titusville, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet]

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MOTHER OF PASTOR DIES AFTER ILLNESS

HOMESTEAD, Fla., Oct. 16 - Mrs. Hester Elizabeth Walker, 70, died yesterday at the home of her son, Rev. C. N. Walker, after an illness resulting from a fractured hip suffered several months ago. Mrs. Walker's home was in Titusville but she made her home with her son the last 10 months. The body was sent tonight to Titusville where funeral services will be conducted tomorrow.

(Published in The Miami Herald on October 17, 1933)



Obituary:

Mrs. Walker Dies After Long Illness

Funeral at 3 P.M. Today; Burial at Memorial Park Cemetery

Mrs. Hester Elizabeth Walker, resident of this city for many years, passed away Sunday afternoon at the home of her son, Rev. C. N. Walker of Homestead, where she had been visiting during the past year.

Mrs. Walker was 70 years of age, and had suffered a stroke a number of months ago from which she never recovered.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon from the First Baptist Church, Rev. Robert Holmes conducting the service. Burial will be in the family plot at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Walker came to Florida in her youth with her parents, who first settled at Lakeland where they engaged in business. Later they moved to Titusville, where Mrs. Walker and her husband, John R. Walker, took a leading part in civic and social life here for many years. Mr. Walker passed away in July 1921.

The deceased leaves a daughter and three sons, Mrs. Mary P. Chappell of Punta Gorda, Fla., Rev. C. N. Walker of Homestead, Geo R. Walker of Miami, and Hans T. Walker of Titusville.

She also leaves four brothers and a sister, J. W. Swain and Mrs. A. N. Wright of Tallahassee, Lee Swain of Atlanta, Chas. Swain of Lakeland and Willis Swain of Jacksonville.

(Published in The East Coast Advocate on October 17, 1933)