Obituary of William E Bigglestone

William E. "Bill" Bigglestone 91, was the first archivist at Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH, serving from 1966 - 1984. He died Sunday, February 20, 2016, in Peppi's Hospice in Tucson, AZ. Born July 20, 1924, in Chicago, IL., he lived with his family in Orion, IL., until 1935 when the family moved to Tucson, AZ for his father's health. Bill graduated from Tucson High School in 1942 where he was a member of the THS swing band, playing bass. He attended the University of Arizona, majoring in American History and graduated with a Master's degree in 1943. After two years in the US Army, serving in Guam and Hawaii, he attended Stanford University, receiving a Master's in American History in 1953. He worked at the National Arvchives before taking a job as archivist at the Firestone plant in Akron in 1958. He became the archivist of Oberlin College in 1966 and the family moved to Oberlin, OH. He retired in 1986. His first wife, Mary Grady of Tucson died in 1983. He married Kay Woodruff Ruckman, OC 1961, in 1984. After his retirement, they moved to Tucson, AZ, with his son, Mark. In the summer of 2004, Bill was feted at the 80th birthday at his Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club, complete with strolling mariachis. A decade later he celebrated his 90th birthday with a large contingent of family and friends from across the United States. He became ill in February and late in the month entered the hospice where he died. ADAIR DODGE FUNERAL HOME in Tucson is in charge of cremation and burial arrangements in SOUTH LAWN Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. A Reception will be held at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at noon. He is survived by his wife, Kay and son, Mark, both of Tucson; his stepdaughter, Eleanor Ruckman of Berkeley, CA and stepson, Andrew Ruckman of Flagstaff, AZ. Daughter, Leah Counts died in 1997. Two nieces also survive, Carrie Lewis Hasse in Claremont, CA and Shannon Lewis Sisk in Redding, CA. Other survivors include son-in-law, Dennis Counts of Wytheville, VA; granddaughters, Mary Counts Hagee of Wytheville and Molly Counts Henry of Roanoke, VA and grandson, Willy Counts of Pearl, MS. Published works include They Stopped in Oberlin (1981), Oberlin From War to Jubilee, 1866 - 1883 (1983), THE Journal of Russell T. Hall, 1893 (1985). And, with his wife, Kay, Catalina Vista (2003)