Fred Bigger, 83

Frederick “Fred” E. Bigger, 83, passed away Sunday night at Evergreen Manor Nursing Home in Montpelier.  He was born on January 22, 1930 in Blakeslee, Ohio to Benjamin and Mary Mabel (Ford) Bigger.  Fred married Kelly L. Miller on September 12, 1980 in Montpelier, and she survives.

Fred proudly served his country in the Merchant Marines at the age of 15, before enlisting in the United States Army during the Korean War.  He served overseas in Japan during this time helping to clean up at the conclusion of the war.

Fred was the owner of F.E. Bigger Home Improvement Company before semi-retiring in 2007 after 60 years of working in the construction business in the Montpelier area.  He was a member of the Montpelier Moose and a lifetime member of the Montpelier Eagles.  In his free time Fred enjoyed golfing, fishing, spending time with his grandchildren, cheering for the Ohio State Buckeyes and vacationing in the Smoky Mountains.

He is survived by his wife Kelly; one daughter Kelly (Frank) Matranga of Pioneer; one sister Betty (Bill) Edwards of Bryan; two grandchildren Danielle (Juan) Morales of Montpelier and Chelsea (Matt) Covello of San Diego, California; and four great grandchildren Damon, Melana, Emilio and Moriah.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers Virgil, Donald and Leonard Bigger; and two sisters Maxine Kissinger and Charlotte Cook.

Visitation hours for Fred will be on Wednesday August 28th from 2-8pm at the Thompson Funeral Home in Montpelier.  Services will be on Thursday at 11am at the funeral home with Pastor John Rumple to officiate.  Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier with military rites by the Montpelier Veterans.  Donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter or Leukemia Lymphoma Society.