Charles Purcell Bigger

Bigger III, Charles PurcellCharles passed away at his home on Sunday, February 15, 2015, at age 91. He is survived by his wife, Anne Gassner Bigger, 4 children; Charles P Bigger IV and wife Marie, of Oklahoma City, Elizabeth Maloan, of Jackson Tennessee, Ann Moore, of Memphis, Tennessee and Rachel Meredith Jones and husband Max, of Carrollton, Georgia; 4 grandchildren, Amy Kerchoff, Alice Friend Young, Mandy Bigger Apple, Jeremiah Bigger; 3 great grandchildren; step children; Dr. Christopher Belleau, and wife Erin, Susanne Pritchard and husband Bill, Elaine Belleau, Amelia Walsh and husband Joseph, Anne Louise Belleau, and Carole Warren and husband Gary, and 11 step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Purcell Bigger Jr. and Helen Smyth Bigger along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.  He was educated at St. Christopher's School in Richmond and at Virginia Military Institute until WWII. His studies were interrupted by the war. While a student at VMI he enlisted in the army and served first in the Cavalry and then in the Signal Corps and did a tour of duty in the South Pacific.  After the war he resumed his studies at the University of Virginia, receiving 3 degrees: BS in Chemistry&Physics, MA in English, and Ph.D in Philosophy. He was a member of the Raven Society, and Phi Beta Kappa. He did post doctoral studies in math and logic at University of California, Berkeley.  He was Professor at LSU from 1964 until his retirement in 1995, serving as Chairman of the Philosophy Department for 16 years. Before coming to LSU, he taught at Hollins College, Ohio State University, Southwestern-at-Memphis (now Rhodes College), Memphis State University, University of Mississippi, and Tulane University. After receiving his Ph.D he worked for the CIA in Washington, DC. He spent sabbatical terms doing research and teaching at various universities including Bogazici University in Istanbul, University of Edinburgh, and Catholic University Leuven, Belgium. At LSU he was instrumental in establishing and was the first Director of the Honors Division of the College of Arts and Sciences, which is now the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College. He led the Phi Beta Kappas in establishing the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at LSU. He authored numerous philosophical papers and four books in philosophy. He was known for his inspiring lectures and received several teaching awards over the course of his career. Visiting Thursday evening at Rabenhorst Funeral Home 825 Government Street from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be at St. Joseph Cathedral, 4th and Main Streets, Baton Rouge at 10:00 am with visiting from 8:30 am until Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, February 20, 2015. Burial will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park, 9595 Florida Blvd. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bigger Lecture Fund, Department of Philosophy, LSU, Baton Rouge 70803.