Fred E. Waggoner, 1925-2004.
Fred Eugene Waggoner, 78, of Grayson, Ky, went to be with his Lord on Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in King’s Daughters Medical Center. He is survived by Bertha Everman Waggoner, his wife of 58 years.
He was born in Grayson, Carter County, Ky, on Dec. 6, 1925, the son of the late Harry and Ellen Kyle Waggoner. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Robert Kyle Waggoner.
Mr. Waggoner joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 at the age of 17, prior to completing his high school education. He served aboard the U.S.S Suamico and saw combat action in the Phillipines, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and throughout the Pacific Theater. Upon his return from military service in 1946, he received his high school diploma from Prichard High School in Grayson, Ky, and went to work for Armco Steel Company in Ashland, Ky.
In 1948 he, along with his father Harry and brother Robert, opened Waggoner’s Market in Grayson, Ky. Then in 1953, they moved and expanded the business, opening the first self-service supermarket in Carter County.
He later enrolled at Kentucky Christian College to pursue his calling to become a minister, and had a long and distinguished career of over 47 years while serving as a minister in the Non-denominational Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. While attending classes at KCC, he served as the minister of the Blaine Church of Christ and the Log Lick Church of Christ, and was instrumental in the reestablishment of the Iron Hill Church of Christ. In 1961, he entered the full-time ministry moving to Logan, OH, where he established new churches in both Logan and Athens, OH. In addition, he had successful ministries at the Seventeenth Street Christian Church in Corbin, Ky and the Central Christian Church in Portsmouth, OH. He then returned to his alma mater, KCC, where he served as the Assistant to the President for Ministerial Training and Development. He ended his full-time ministry serving the Jackson Christian Church, Jackson, Ky, where he retired in 1991. Even in his retirement, he continued serve his Lord by maintaining a part-time ministry with the Grange City Christian Church, in Fleming County, Ky.
As well as bringing hundreds of people to Christ, Mr... Waggoner was an avid hunter and fisherman, who loved to hunt deer, quail, and grouse, and to catch largemouth bass. He enjoyed gardening and had a great love for helping people. He deeply loved his country and was proud to have been part of “America’s Greatest Generation” that sacrificed so much to defend our freedom. Most importantly, he fulfilled the purpose that God placed him on this earth to do, and in doing so, made an eternal difference in the lives of thousands of men and women.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Karolyn and Jim Roe of Grayson, Ky; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Pam Waggoner of Corbin, Ky, and Freddie and Michelle Waggoner of Lexington, Ky; and a son, Harry Waggoner of Lynchburg, VA; six grandchildren, Anna Angerer, Michael McGlone, Rebecca Middleton, Cindy Bykowski, Bob Waggoner, and Andrew Waggoner; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at the Malone Funeral Home, Grayson, Ky, from 5-9 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004, and at the church one hour prior to the service.
Funeral services will be held at 10 AM, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004, at the Oak Grove Church of Christ, Grayson, Ky, with Dr. L. Palmer Young and Dr. Donald R. Damron officiating. Burial will follow at the East Carter County Memory Gardens in Grayson, Ky.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Oak Grove Church of Christ Building Fund, 1525 Damron Branch, Grayson, Ky, 41143.
Condolences can be made to the family at www.timeformemory.com/malone
