Obituary of Florence Wigton

Longtime resident of Kit Carson County, Florence Irene Wigton passed away on Monday, January 8, 2007 at her home southeast of Vona, Colorado at the age of 99. She was born on March 29, 1907 to Bert O. and Martha J. (Huddle) Bogart at their homestead in Southeast Kit Carson County, Colorado. She was the middle child. She graduated in 1927 from Kanorado High School and received a lifetime Teaching Certificate from Greeley State Teachers College, Greeley, Colorado. Florence and John H. Wigton were married January 1, 1930 at her parents’ homestead southeast of Burlington, Colorado. They were the parents of two children. John and Florence lived south of Bethune before moving to their current home of seventy-five years. John preceded his wife in death, December 15, 1984. Mrs. Wigton was a member of the Stratton Church of God and a former member of the Rebekah Lodge in Burlington. She taught in many one-room schoolhouses in Cheyenne and Kit Carson Counties as well as in the Kit Carson and Vona Public Schools for a total of 33 years. Mrs. Wigton was elected Kit Carson County Superintendent of Schools from 1944-1948. The Colorado Department of Family Services employed her for a number of years and in 1976, the Kit Carson County Extension Service recognized Florence for her 30 years of 4-H Leadership. Others preceding her in death include her parents, two brothers, three sisters and one great grandson. Survivors include her son, Dean Wigton and wife Arlene of Stratton, Colorado; her daughter, Nadine Bailey of Osawatomie, Kansas; nine granddaughters, nineteen great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law. Funeral services for Mrs. Wigton were held on Monday, January 15, 2007 at 10:30 AM at the Stratton Church of God with Pastor Dustin Sells officiating. Burial will follow at the Claremont Cemetery, Stratton, Colorado. Memorials may be made in Florence’s name to the Stratton Church of God or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at the First National Bank, Stratton, Colorado.