W H "Dub" Pigg Jr

View Video Tribute William Henderson Pigg, Jr., "Dub", 90, retired owner of Pigg & Parsons, Inc. and resident of Academy Lane, passed away Saturday morning, April 6, 2013. A memorial Service will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, West 7th Street in downtown Columbia with the Reverend Joe Evans and Reverend Jennie Barber officiating. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols and Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church. Honorary Friends include Raymond Hamilton, Harold W. Lucas, Michael J. Poling, Sr., Jim Casselberry, John Fletcher, David Locke, Dick Green, Bob Sweeney, Joe Lancaster, and Dr. Steve Simmons. Notes of sympathy may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com. He was born a Columbia, Tennessee native on June 23, 1922 to the late Louise Walker Pigg and William Henderson Pigg, Sr. He grew up a member of the First Methodist Church in downtown Columbia and received his early education attending Andrews School. In 1940, he graduated from Columbia Central High School with Salutatorian honors, served as Class Treasurer, and was accepted to Vanderbilt University in the Class of 1944. A student of engineering, he had made honor roll his first two years there when World War II broke out. In keeping with the generous spirit that would come to define him, he and his two best engineering buddies, Bob Petty of Columbia and Gleason Williamson of Mt. Pleasant (both now deceased) volunteered in 1942 for Air Force cadet school together, becoming known as the Three Musketeers. A story that was chronicled in area-wide newspapers, these three would serve together, come home from the war to pursue families and careers, and remain friends for life. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant, W. H. Pigg, Jr. became a "photo interpreter" stationed in Italy and serving primarily on the European front. At World War II's end he returned to Vanderbilt in January, 1946 to finish his degree which began with the Class of 1944. He completed his degree with the Class of 1947, enjoying his Sigma Chi fraternity and meeting his sweetheart, Beverly Johnson, also of Columbia. They were married that same year and began preparing for life in Maury County. In 1950, the Korean War recalled him to Barksdale Air Force Base in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thankfully, the threat was short-lived, returning him once again to Columbia where he joined his father, co-founder of Pigg & Parson's Men's Clothing Store, in the family business. Through his leadership and his love of the work, Pigg & Parsons developed a four-store presence in Middle Tennessee, becoming a corporation of which he served as President. On any given day for fifty years or so, Dub Pigg was a welcoming figure to those who needed a friendly face, a place to sit 'n relax, or something nice to wear. In addition to his veteran commitment to the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19, W.H. Pigg, Jr. also served as Exhalted Ruler of the Columbia Benevolent Order of the Elks, President of Graymere Country Club, and member of the Middle Tennessee Bank Board of Directors. Joining his wife, Beverly, in membership at the Garden Street Presbyterian Church, which later became Westminster Presbyterian, he served as both Deacon and Elder, as well as member of the Westminster Board of Directors. Both Beverly and Dub became members of the downtown First Presbyterian Church in 2002, which they have called their "church home" since. Having played on the Vanderbilt Tennis Team, Dub remained an avid tennis enthusiast participating in (and winning) community tournaments in both singles and doubles. He encouraged his golf- playing wife, Beverly, to take up his tennis sport as he took up hers. Old Daily Herald sports pages are full of the fun they both had enjoying tennis and golf with their friends who shared the same passion. Later, when the Old Gents of Graymere Club (OGOGS) were formed, Dub Pigg served as President. His wry humor with friends, kindness to strangers, and devotion to his family are all hallmarks of this elegant southern gentleman. To say he is a 'memorable cog' in a vanishing breed of the Greatest Generation is to honor those friends of his still living as well as those who've gone on before him. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Johnson Pigg of Columbia; his daughters, Sheryl Lynn Pigg (pka Sherry Paige) of Nashville and Teresa Pigg Poling of Columbia; his son, Ed Holmes, (formerly William Edgar Pigg) of California; his granddaughter, Linton Lee Poling of Columbia; his grandson, Michael J. Poling, Jr. of Columbia; his sister, Dorothe Pigg Tucker of Murfreesboro; his brother, James E. "Buddy" (Nancy) Pigg, Sr. of Shelbyville; his cousin, Maury Randolph Pigg of Cleveland; nieces, Susan Tucker (Cooper) Collins of Colorado and Lisa Pigg Klein of Shelbyville; nephews, Mark Henderson (Lisa) Pigg of Nashville, James E. (Linda) Pigg, Jr. of Lawrenceburg, Robert Howard (Karen) Pigg of Florida, and Clark F. Tucker; and a precious array of great-nieces and great-nephews. The family wishes to thank the many kind friends, neighbors, and members of the care-giving community for their concern and involvement during the illness and passing of W.H. Pigg, Jr.