William Rufus "Shorty" Wiggins

William Rufus “Shorty” Wiggins left this earth at home on October 25, 2021 in Cary, NC at the age of 92 after a period of declining health. He fought bravely and stoically till he could not fight anymore. His children, youngest granddaughter, and his hospice nurse were present and soothed his anxiousness, speaking calming assurances that everyone was going to be ok and that he had “done good”.

He is survived by his son Ted Wiggins (Michelle) of Apex, NC and daughter, Glenda Wiggins of Durham, NC. His grandchildren, Brittney Cranwell Barbour (Johnathon) of Elkin, NC, Bryce Allen Cranwell (Carrie) of Grimesland, NC and Bailey Cranwell Dial (Josh) of Four Oaks, NC. He is preceded in death by His wife Loraine Pulley Wiggins, his parents, George Bryant Wiggins and Polly Newell Wiggins and his siblings, Pearl Gaither, Luther Wiggins, Arthur Wiggins, Clifton Wiggins, and Edward Wiggins.

Born William Rufus Wiggins to George Bryant Wiggins and Polly Newell Wiggins on February 12, 1929 in Edgecombe County, NC. He was number five out of six children. Born to a family of sharecroppers he knew hard work from a young age. He would talk of ‘cuttin cabbage’ - which he refused to eat in any form. His family moved to Arapahoe, NC (Pamlico County) when he was a small child and he received his schooling until 5th grade. Times were hard and he was sent to live with his older brother Luther and wife Doris.

Prior to leaving Arapahoe he spent a brief time with the Marine Corp Air Station. He left home at the age of 16 and moved to Cary NC where he lived in a boarding house while working. Never one to shy away from manual labor or hard work he held jobs as a mechanic at Cricket’s Filling Station, Curlee’s Machine Shop, Taylor Biscuit Company (later Fairmont Foods/Austin Foods) before securing a position at Colonial Stores (Big Star) as a large truck mechanic and eventually garage foreman where he worked hard taking care of the truck drivers. Moonlighting with Red Poole and Herb Young, ‘turning wrenches’, he was always working to provide for his family. He married Loriane Pulley Wiggins and together they raised Ted and Glenda Wiggins, who he referred to as his “Boy” and “Girl”. Early in his marriage, he and Loraine would shelter their nephew, Pete House while he attended college locally. Pete always said that his Uncle Rufus could fix anything with a motor. Later on a place at the table would always be sat for Teresa Lupton, their niece who lived in Raleigh- just in case she dropped by for a home cooked meal. After retirement, he continued to chase a dollar, pulling cars with Cotten Spencer and raking leaves with his best buddy, Charlie Watkins. He was a solid fixture at RJG Hot Dog Stand at the NC State Fair where he took great pride in cutting fries and sticking apples.

Later on he enjoyed riding around old Cary and talking about who used to live where and what establishment was where. He told grand stories of shenanigans and of all the mischief he and his buddies got into at the Variety Pick Up or CaryTavern. There’s even a rumor about his connection to a pick up truck found in the bottom on Cary Pond but if questioned he would simply reply, “I don’t know nothing about that” while displaying his infamous mischievous grin. He was affectionately known as Granddaddy to His + Girl’s three children: Brittney Anne, Bryce Allen, and Bailey Alyce, and was Great-Grandaddy to Nicholas Isaac. He adored, and was so very proud, of His Boy and His Boy’s wife Michelle Allen Wiggins and their fur children, Buster and Leeloo.

He had many special friends and neighbors who checked on him often. He was usually found outside sitting in his chair smoking a cigar or working in his garden tending to his maters and peppers.

His dearest friend and companion was Nancy Ray. He loved her and their special friendship over the years. It was evident that she loved him too.

He enjoyed outings to the Farmer’s Market Restaurant, Big Ed’s, Ole Time BBQ (his favorite) where he was famous for flirting with the waitresses, and D&S Cafeteria.  These times were nourishment to his soul as well as his body.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday November 5 from 6-8 pm at Brown Wynne Funeral Home, Cary, NC. A service in the Chapel of Brown Wynne will be held on Saturday November 6 from 12-1 with burial following at Maple Wood Cemetery in Clayton NC at 2.

Flowers are welcome and donations to the Kay Yow Foundation, Jimmy V Foundation, Thad Eure Walk for Hope, Ronald McDonald House of Winston Salem, and Transitions LifeCare of Raleigh are all meaningful to the family.

Ted and Glenda are profoundly grateful to all the loving care their Daddy received from Transitions LifeCare and extend a special thank you to his CNA, Leisa and his nurse, Sara who showed exceptional love and care and fulfilled Rufus’ final wish of being at home. The family would also like to recognize the staff at Wake Med Cary for their sensitivity to our needs and wishes as they provided exceptional care.