William "Bill" James Bigelow

AIKEN, SC - Born in Lima, Ohio on October 1, 1938, Mr Bigelow succumbed after a long battle with congestive heart failure on Thursday, March 6, 2014. Son of the late William Howard and Mary Bigelow, he was the devoted and beloved husband of Ellen Gail, loving father of Mary Christine Bigelow, and Valerie Elise Bigelow, of San Francisco, California, Rebecca Katrin Counts and father-in-law of Ryan Counts of Montana; stepfather of Alexandra Blythe Ernst and Francesca Arnel Ernst of Arlington, Virginia, and cherished brother of Cheryl Evanson and brother-in-law, Jerry Evanson, of Bremerton, Washington. Mr. Bigelow is survived, as well, by his nephew, Steven Stewart, and niece, Crystal Stewart of Bremerton, Washington; great nieces and nephews; life-long friend William Adams, and his mother and father-in-law, Annette and Irving Tannenbaum of New York. Retired, Mr. Bigelow was a resident of Aiken, South Carolina for the past three and a half years. A passionate supporter of the Second Amendment, Mr Bigelow leaves friends and associates both near and far through his life-long association and affiliation with the National Rifle Association, and travels around the country and the world. A gentleman, a sportsman, and an avid jazz enthusiast, he was a true modern-day Renaissance Man throughout his life. He loved his family, his country, took great pride in his service in the United States Navy, and the principles and ethics he lived by. Some men have dreams. Bill Bigelow lived his. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Monday at Shellhouse - Rivers Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 AM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to Regency Hospice, 105 Summerwood Way, Aiken, SC 29803, for the excellent care provided to Mr. Bigelow. SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" James Bigelow, please visit our flower store.