Robert Everett Wilgus' Obituary
ROBERT EVERETT WILGUS was born Jan. 26, 1932 and passed away, surrounded by family, on Jan. 28, 2016. He fought Parkinson’s disease for 16 years, yet still lightened everyone’s spirits, often declaring “Mission accomplished!” and flashing that smile when he finally made it into a chair for dinner. The fifth child and only son of Everett, a pharmacist, and Anna Wilgus, Robert grew up in Brownfield, Texas. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where his lifelong interest in electronics began. He proudly served on an aircraft carrier before being discharged from active duty in 1953, then attended Tri-State College in Indiana on the GI Bill, and on Dec. 23, 1955, married Sandra Lynn Bailey, his high school sweetheart. They lived in Ohio for two years, where Robert worked helping design and develop color televisions. But Texas remained in his blood, so he moved his family to Richardson, working for Collins Radio, later, Rockwell International, until retiring in 1988. Robert’s greatest source of pride was his family, who, he liked to say, brought him “joy and happiness in every way.” They in turn remember and will forever revel in his faith, his spirit, his wit, his wisdom, and the ever-present songs he had at the ready for any occasion. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; their three children and spouses David and Jeanne Wilgus, Kenneth and Sally Wilgus, and Carol and John Edwards; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Rita Crudup and Elizabeth Harwood of Brownfield, Texas. Visitation at Restland Tuesday Feb.2, 6:00-7:30p.m. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3 at First Baptist Church Richardson, where he has been a member and served faithfully since 1959. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church’s building fund.
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