Richard D. Bigham Jr.

Richard Dean Bigham Jr passed away May 1, 2017 after a brief fight against melanoma and brain cancer. To say Dick Bigham was well loved and well known is an understatement. Dick was born on March 2, 1938 in Columbus. He attended Immaculate Conception and St. Agatha grade schools and is a 1956 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School. To this day he still saw, associated and heard from childhood and high school friends regularly, Veritas! From the time Dick could walk, he worked in the family sign business started by his father, Richard Dean Bigham Sr, (1913-1985), Bigham Sign and Display, Co, Bigham Graphic Group. After a brief, few years at University of Dayton, he met his roommate, James Bollensen (1938-2014), later to become his brother- in- law, marring Dicks only sibling, Patrice (Bigham) Bollensen. In 1960, Dick joined the Ohio National Guard. He was very proud of his service. He was honorably discharged in 1965 to take over the family sign business and raise his family. In 1962, Dick married Jani (Miller) Bigham, (1941-1993). They shared a great life together with lots of camping and beach trips, fun friends and family and raising five children together and then 15 grandchildren. Dan and Betsy Bigham, their children, Alexx (soon to be son-in-law, Tony Vargas), Dani, Hollis, and Olivia; Susi and Paul Edgington, their children, Zach, Jeff, Aimee (soon to be son-in-law, James Larrabee); Elizabeth and Scott Quinn, their children, Wyatt, McConnell, and Bridgett; Natalie and Scott Schroeder, their children, Sally, Dutch, and Tabitha; Matt and Nicole Bigham, their children, Matilde and newest member, Lucas Dean. After a 31-year marriage, Jani passed away unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. Dick was lucky in love and in August 1995, married Joy (Brown) Bigham a long-time family friend. Joyful added even more children, grandchildren, the only great grandchild and more in-laws, to the clan, Teri and Mark Bringardner, their children, Chris and Marie Barnes, with great-grandson Lincoln, and Fletcher Barnes; Julia Boron, her children, Michael and Sara Boron, Briana, and Joey; Beth and Ron Sprout, their son, Marcus; Ken and Diana Brown, their son, Garrick. Joy passed away after 19 years of marriage following a brief illness. They shared many travels and adventures and many fun times with all of their children and grandchildren. Then along came Alice Brusadin, Dicks most recent friend, companion and travel mate. Dick met Alice at Riverside Hospital where he volunteered for 25 years earning many awards for his countless hours of service and volunteering. Alice and Dick were together the past three years. Alice was a huge comfort to Dick over the past few months with his illness. Dick Bigham’s life revolved around his family, his faith in the Catholic Church, the sign shop, his friends and living in the City of Columbus. Dick could and would walk in anywhere and make a friend and usually that friend was someone he knew or somehow related to someone he knew. Dick was the definition of 6 (or less) degrees of separation, by the time he finished talking with someone, they knew his life story and his kids’ life stories. He didn’t know a stranger and was a master story teller! Richard Bigham leaves behind a legacy of being a great father, brother, uncle, grandpa, friend, man and much more! He will be missed by many but never forgotten! Heaven got a good man! Go Bucks! The family will receive friends at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington, OH 43085 on Friday, May 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 20 E. Dominion Blvd., Columbus, OH 43214. Private family inurnment. In Lieu of Flowers, the family is accepting contributions to the OhioHealth Foundation, PO Box 600001, Columbus, OH 43272-9802. www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com

Richard D. Bigham Jr.

March 2, 1938 - May 1, 2017