Robert E Wiggins

Dr. Robert E. Wiggins of Abilene passed away on September 7, 2017. He was born in Jackson, Tennessee on August 18, 1926 to Robert E. Wiggins and Sylvia Brannon Wiggins. He graduated from high school in Cleveland, Mississippi in 1944. After graduating, and before his 18th birthday, he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific until 1946. After his service, he returned to attend college at Delta State University and Tulane University. In 1948, Dr. Wiggins was accepted to Baylor Dental School and graduated with his D.D.S. degree in 1951. At Baylor, he made may lifelong friends, and met the love of his life, Helen Sue Moody. They were married September 23, 1950, and were about to celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary. Dr. Wiggins practiced dentistry in Carthage, Texas from 1951-1963 and in Abilene, from 1963-2011. He felt that dentistry was his true calling, and loved working with his patients for 60 years. He was an active member of organized dentistry and served as president of the 17th District Dental Society, the West Texas Dental Society, the Southwest Prosthodontic Society, and served on the Texas Dental Association Peer Review Council. He enjoyed lecturing throughout the U.S. on the topics of Occlusion and Prosthodontics. He was an active member and Sunday School teacher at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Dr. Wiggins was preceded in death by a brother, James, and two sisters, Betty Powell and Peggy Grant. He is survived by his wife Helen Sue Wiggins of Abilene; daughter Suellen and husband Randall Mahaffey of Garland; daughter Cindy Philipp of Sacramento, CA; son Robert and wife Jane Wiggins of Abilene; daughter Liana and husband Tommy Tolson of Lucas, TX; and son James and wife Sherri Wiggins of Frisco; 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Anne Dismuke of Centerville, Ohio. Visitation will be Thursday, September 14th from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at 2150 Old Orchard Road. A celebration of his life will be held Friday, September 15th at 11:00 A.M. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Officiating will be Dr. Phil Christopher and Amy Wilson Feltz. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation, Hospice of the Big Country, or the donor's favorite charity. The family wishes to thank Dr. Bill Haynes, Connie Holliday R.N., and the other nurses of Hospice of the Big Country.