Wendell Biggers

Wendell Biggers was many things to a lot of people. Eldest son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, baseball player, chemical engineer, outdoorsman, craftsman, builder, and master gardener. Wendell passed away on September 23rd just shy of his 81st birthday after a life fully lived. He was surrounded by his wife of 60 years, Barbara, and their children.

Wendell was born on October 16, 1930 in Konowa, Oklahoma, the eldest son of Thomas and Millicent Biggers. He grew up primarily in Beecher City, Illinois where he and his brother, Valgene, swam in Wolf Creek and played baseball. While a teenager, he earned his way mowing grass ($1/acre) and stocking groceries. Wendell went on to play baseball in college and was headed to the big leagues until a knee ailment side-lined that ambition.

However, it was during the college years that he met Barbara Steele, the love of his life. After graduation from the University of Illinois with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering, Wendell and Barbara moved from Illinois to Baytown, Texas where he went to work for Humble Oil and Refining Company. By the time Wendell retired from Exxon Corporation some 38 years later, he and Barbara had raised 5 children and Wendell had worked at both the Baytown refinery and the Esso LNG facility near Benghazi, Libya.

Wendell coached Little League baseball in Baytown for 18 years and was an avid supporter of the San Jacinto College baseball program. He was also a self-taught carpenter and craftsman. Most tools carried by Sears & Roebuck now reside on their property. Following retirement, both Wendell and Barbara became master gardeners and the produce raised fed family and friends for many years. Gardening was approached with engineering precision, complete with data tables and graphs.

Wendell was a member of the Baytown Central Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents and brother. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, their five children (Mark Biggers and wife, Lisa; Susan Davenport; Debra Healy and husband, Russell; Steve Biggers and wife, Deanna; and Karen Bach and husband, Ed), 12 grandchildren (Michael Biggers and wife Melissa, Matthew Biggers, Daniel Biggers, Lizzi Biggers, Dustin Chase and wife Laurie, Jennifer Healy, David Healy, Laura Biggers, Linsay Biggers, Tim Bach, Melanie Bach and Andrew Bach), and 3 great-grandchildren (Emily Biggers, Jacob Biggers, and Caylie Chase).

A memorial service will be held at Navarre Funeral Home at 2444 Rollingbrook Drive in Baytown, Texas on Tuesday, September 27th at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to Guiding Eyes for the Blind (611 Granite Springs Road, Yorkstown Heights, New York 10598) or Watchtower (25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201).

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX 77521 (281) 422-8111.