Pearl Harbor Survivor To Be Remembered At Celebration Of Life

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — Hailing from Richmond, Indiana, where he was born on April 9, 1920,Cecil "Wig" Wigmore was just 18 years old and admittedly wet behind the ears when he joined the Army.

A warrant officer junior grade in the Quartermaster Corps, Wigmore was stationed in what seemed like paradise, Fort Shafter on the island of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

At that time, World War II was being waged in Europe, but the United States had managed to stay out of the fray.

However, relations between the U.S. and Japan had become increasingly hostile.

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, described by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as "a date which will live in infamy," Wigmore was at work at Army headquarters.

In an attack that took the military by surprise, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes materialized in the skies over Pearl Harbor and began dropping bombs, transforming paradise into a nightmare.

More than 2,400 Americans lost their lives in the attack including seven people who were working at Army headquarters with Wigmore that morning.

Wigmore, however, was destined to live a long life.

After surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor and receiving the Bronze Star for meritorious service, Wigmore went on to raise a family and enjoy a fulfilling and successful career in outdoor advertising, working with some of the top agencies in the country before reluctantly retiring at the age of 83.

Before his death on Sept. 10 at the age of 102, Wigmore was among only an estimated 1,500 Pearl Harbor survivors still living.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m., the community is invited to join Wigmore's family, friends and fellow veterans as they come together to celebrate a life well lived at the Seven Springs Country Club Palm Room, 3535 Trophy Blvd. (Gulf View Drive entrance), New Port Richey.

As proud as Wigmore was of his military service and his membership in the elite association of Pearl Harbor survivors, he was equally proud of his family.

Wigmore was working at Ball Brothers in Muncie, Indiana, when he met and married Gloria Goebel in 1947. They had five children and were together for 26 years before Gloria Wigmore died in 1973.

He later married Mary Lou "Jo" Hodson in 1977 and the two were inseparable until her death in 2010.

According to his daughter, Mary Lou (Wigmore) Nicoli, her father loved working and staying busy. When he retired, he turned the energy he devoted to his job toward the veterans organizations he held memberships in.

Wigmore served as the commander of American Legion Post 307, was the past president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Southeast Florida, was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10167 Honor Guard, the NCO Club, the Lions Club, and the Elks and Moose lodges.

He was recognized many times for his dedication and service to veterans.

He was especially proud to be a member of the Honor Flight to commemorate the movie, "The Pacific." HBO sponsored a special slate of Honor Flights to bring together 250 World War II veterans who fought in the Pacific arena to visit the World War II memorial.

Wigmore is survived by all five children: James Wigmore, Kathleen (John) Erickson, Harriet Wigmore and fiancé Robert Zambelli, Paulette (Tom) Sato and Mary Louise Nicoli; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Wigmore's memory.

Those who knew Wigmore are invited to share memories on his Legacy page.