Elton Edwin “Ed” Wiggs, Jr.

Birth Date: 09/05/1941
Deceased Date: 01/03/2023

Mr. Elton Edwin (Ed) Wiggs, Jr. (81) of Princeton, North Carolina passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2023 in Smithfield, North Carolina after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Born in Princeton, NC on September 5, 1941 to the late Elton Edwin (Toby) and Frances Wiggs he graduated from Princeton High School where he was a basketball player and volunteer firefighter.

Ed attended Fredrick Military Academy in Portsmouth, Virginia and East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina where he majored in Business. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army, serving in the Army Reserves. He worked for 25 years with RG Barry Corporation in Goldsboro, NC as the Personnel Director and 14 years with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in Cary, NC as Executive Leader for Business Services.

Ed was a longtime volunteer firefighter with the Princeton Fire Department serving for a time as Assistant Chief, a member of St. Patrick’s Masonic Lodge #617 in Princeton, and was a Deacon and church moderator at Princeton Baptist Church where he was a longtime member. He was a member of First Baptist Church Smithfield, NC and a longtime guest at First Baptist Church of Oak Island. Ed enjoyed spending time at the beach particularly Kure Beach, Fort Caswell and Oak Island. He enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, cooking pigs eastern North Carolina style with his special recipe for family gatherings as well.

Ed is survived by his wife Jean (nee Adams) of the home, daughter Kim Wiggs Gamlin and son-in-law Steve Gamlin of Smithfield and Oak Island, brother Don (wife Hilda and family) Wiggs of Woodstock, Georgia, and sister-in-law Rose Edwards of Fayetteville, NC, brothers- in-law Carl Adams, Jr. and Tommy Edwards of Princeton, NC, nieces, a nephew and numerous cousins. He also leaves his cat Harley who was a loyal companion.

Following his wishes, a private graveside service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Ed Wiggs to the NC Baptist Assembly, Fort Caswell (100 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465) or to the Princeton Fire Department (Post Office Box 631, Princeton, NC 27569). The family wishes to thank Freddie Adams, Jr. (Southeast Family Pharmacy and cousin), Jamie Ham (UNC Internal Medicine at Goldsboro), and attending staff at Smithfield Manor and Johnston Health for their exemplary care and compassion.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.