Rev. Roy E Wigal

The Reverend Roy Edwin Wigal joined the Church Triumphant June 6, 2017, nine days short of his 83rd birthday.The son of the late Edwin L. and Lottie Grace (Jackson) Wigal, Roy was orphaned as a toddler by the early death of his parents and was raised first by his grandparents and by his aunt and uncles, Stella and Mason Bargeloh and Lester Jackson of Mineral Wells, WV.His childhood in the Mineral Wells area gave him a life-long love of the hills of West Virginia, about which he frequently both bragged and vacationed. He was a member of the class of 1953 at Parkersburg High School where he met his wife of sixty-plus years, Edna Mae Welling.Roy was mentored in his high school years by PHS teacher Laura Rector Hedrick who encouraged him to consider ordained ministry.Roy accepted this call early in his life. Roy graduated from Marietta College while simultaneously serving his first pastorate at the Constitution/Tunnel/Bethel charge of the Methodist Church.From there he went on to attend United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio and became an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, serving 46 years prior to retirement.A compassionate, people-oriented person, Roy was loved by the congregations he served and he dedicated his life to the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the love of God.His ministry continues through the many he mentored and encouraged in their calling to ordained ministry.Roy had a great and active sense of humor, and could rarely get a sermon started without a joke!He served congregations in Ft. Jefferson, Rio Grande, Proctorville/Rome, Belpre: St. Mark’s, Huber Heights: Aldersgate, Lewisburg (interim), Owensville, and Summerside, all in Ohio.Following retirement, he continued to serve on a part-time basis with congregations in the Cincinnati area. He was preceded in death by his wife Edna, who passed away Feb. 25th, 2016 and by an infant sister.He is survived by his daughter, Rev. Joy Wigal of Zanesville, Ohio, and son Mr. John (Dr. Cecelia) Wigal of Chattanooga, TN, and by grandchildren Karis French, Janelle Wigal and Joel French. Visitation will be at Kimes Funeral Home, 521 5th St., Parkersburg, WV on Monday, June 12th, from 10-11:30 a.m.A Celebration of Life will follow there immediately at 11:30 a.m., the Rev. Gail Sims and Rev. Charles Hill officiating.He will be laid to rest next to Edna in Big Tygart Cemetery, Mineral Wells, looking out over the beautiful mountains of West Virginia.In lieu of flowers, gift may be made to the United Methodist Church of your choice.