Patsy Ruth Wiginton
Patsy Ruth Wiginton, 86, longtime resident of Panola, Oklahoma, beloved wife of Bill Wiginton Sr. went home to meet her Lord and Savior on August 17, 2023.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on August 25, 2023 at the Wilburton First Assembly of God Church with Mr. Stuart Winlock officiating. The burial will follow at the Maxey Cemetery, near Victor, Oklahoma.
Patsy was born to Cora Elizabeth and Lloyd White on June 4 in Goose Camp, Arkansas. She spent her childhood years in Arkansas and California. She told stories of picking cotton and turning grapes when she was young to earn her own spending money. Her mother taught her of the goodness of God, and from an early age Patsy placed her faith in the Lord. That faith never wavered and she told everyone she met of God’s goodness until the very end of her life. Pat met Bill Wiginton at church in California and quickly decided he was the only guy for her. She married her handsome sailor on August 28, 1954, and believed she was the luckiest wife in the world to be Mrs. Bill Wiginton. After a few years in California, and the birth of their first daughter, the happy couple moved to Wilburton, Oklahoma in 1958, where they lived for most of her remaining years. Pat raised four children with her husband and she loved being a mother and a grandmother. Nothing gave her greater joy than visits from her family and friends. When you came in the door you were greeted with a smile, a hug and an offer of food and a glass of tea or a cup of coffee.
Pat attended Wilburton First Assembly of God for more than 5 decades and served in many capacities including teaching children of all ages, women’s ministries, benevolence, prayer ministry, assistant-treasurer, and more. She was a member of the Rocky Point Extension Homemakers Club and enjoyed attending and hosting the monthly club meetings. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook and won many ribbons at the Latimer County Fair. She volunteered with the local election board and was often seen greeting voters at the polls on election day. Pat worked at Jack’s Dry Cleaners and Thomas Brothers Lumber Yard, as well as a few other places in Wilburton. She enjoyed a job where she could interact with customers and have the flexibility to be available for her family. She also loved growing things. She raised a large vegetable garden and had a beautiful yard full of flowers and plants. She was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. To the very end she told everyone “God has been so good to me!” Pat’s favorite word was Joy and it described her well.
Pat was preceded in death by her mother, Cora Hays, her father Lloyd White, step-father Arthur Hays, brother Bill Akins, sisters Laura Mae Acord, Mary Lee Epperson, Wilma Akins, Ethel Lambert, Betty Dudley and Norma Garner.
Surviving to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 69 years, Billy R. Wiginton, Sr.; daughters Nora Sutton and husband Jeff, Pamela Taylor and husband Ron, Laura Sanders and husband Dave; son Bill Wiginton Jr. and wife Michelle; grandchildren Russell Ross and wife Brooke, Elizabeth Acker and husband Jon, Steven Newsom and wife Kim, Linda Campbell and husband Rodney, Monica Moore and husband David, Jill Laturnus, Ty Taylor and wife Molly, Sara Lewis and husband Wes, Michael Sanders and wife Chelsie, Colleen Connaughton and husband Daniel, Shelby Carr and husband Jacob, Shea Wiginton, Baylee Wiginton, Brynna Wiginton, and Brett Wiginton; great-grandchildren Bryce Ross, Rianne Thomas and husband Dakota, Ava Ross, Emma Ross, Christopher Newsom, Kennedy Newsom, Kaylee Campbell, Boedy Campbell, Jordan Wheaton and husband Brad, Carson Moore and wife Kaleen, Colt Moore, Boedy Black, Chelbi Black, Brentlee Black, Bennett Black, Brock Sabbee, Jordan Litherland, Vivian Taylor, Declan Taylor, Jackson Embers, Nathan Embers and wife Samantha, Caroline Lewis, Ellanore Sanders, Olivia Sanders, Rosalyn Sanders, and Raylynn Carr; great-great grandchildren Luke Ross, Bucky Ross, Gnaeus Ross, Remmington Wheaton, Lennox Wheaton, Zoey Moore, Addieline Moore, Kiensler Moore and Wesley Embers; brother-in law Jim Wiginton; sister-in-law Artie Lou Irving; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
From Proverbs 31
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he will have no lack of gain. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life…. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.