William Russell Pigott of Coupeville “took his last flight” on the morning of July 23, 2015. A funeral service was held on Monday, Aug. 3, at Wallin Funeral Home in Oak Harbor. Rev. Paul Pluth, JCL officiated. Burial with full military honors followed at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard.

Bill was born Dec. 3, 1930, in Enterprise, West Va., the son of the late Harold Blake Pigott and the late Harriett Marie Pigott. He was raised on the family farm in Shinnston, West Va., graduated from Shinnston High School, attended Fairmont University until 1950 and was then appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., graduating in 1954. He was commissioned in the United States Air Force, where he followed his passion for flying. He then entered flight training and was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service. As a pilot, Bill flew Trans-Pacific flights and remained on active duty until 1958, when he entered the Air Force Reserves assisting the Civil Air Patrol.

Bill held several management positions in his civilian career during which he earned a master of business degree from the University of North Florida. In 1995, he designed a drill bit that injected carbon dioxide while boring into methane-infused landfills. This was later patented, and the patent remains on the wall of his Coupeville home. He held licenses as a commercial pilot, single and multi-engine, instrument rating and radio license. Bill’s final military position was that of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.

Bill was married in 1955 to Marilyn Greenlee in Lubbock, Texas. Together they raised four children, Nancy, David, Susan and Bill. Marilyn and Bill lived in many states and settled in Idaho Falls, Ida., until Marilyn’s untimely death in 1996.

In 1999, Bill married Kathryn Anne Diedrich. They built a home in Coupeville, overlooking Puget Sound, where Bill designed and supervised most aspects of the construction.

Bill was an active volunteer and a skilled craftsman; he helped construct six homes for Habitat for Humanity in Idaho Falls in the late 1970s. In 1999 after relocating, Bill shared his gifts across Whidbey by donating hundreds of hours helping to build another six homes as part of the Oak Harbor Habitat of Island County. In more recent years, Bill worked with and was the president of the Central Whidbey Lions Club, where he built ramps, refurbished local public and historic buildings and helped with fundraising. Bill had a deep appreciation for nature as evidenced by the flowers, vegetables and fruit trees that he lovingly tended in his garden.

Bill had a thirst for knowledge and never stopped learning. He enjoyed reading periodicals related to woodworking, travel, photography and gardening. He also designed and built beautiful furniture. When between large projects and volunteer work, Bill created precious heirlooms for his children and grandchildren in the form of antique cars, handmade knives and, more recently, wooden penguin toys.

Bill was a renaissance man. To truly write about what he accomplished in his life and the lives that he quietly influenced would take years. Bill will be greatly missed. He was a wonderful son, father, husband, stepdad, serviceman, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, who, despite all of his accomplishments, remained a good ‘ole farm boy at heart.

Bill is survived by his wife of 16 years, Kathryn Anne Pigott, her eight children and her granddaughter, Jessica, whom Bill helped raise; daughter Nancy (Joe) Loughlin of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; son David (Sharon) Pigott of Draper, Utah; daughter Susan (Mark) Johnson of Pocatello, Idaho; son Bill (partner Patrick) Pigott of Palm Springs, Calif.; grandson Jonathon (Shalisa) Kellers, whom he helped raise, of Hayden, Ida.; sister Betty (Alan) Hofses of Hixon, Tenn.; brother Robert (Thelma) Pigott of Coker, Ala.; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Harold, his mother, Harriett, and his wife of 44 years, Marilyn.

Please visit Bill’s page in the Book of Memories to share memories, and condolences may be sent to the family at www.wallinfuneral home.com.

The family received friends at a reception at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall following the burial. Please make any donations in Bill’s name to the Central Whidbey Lions Club.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor.