William F. Wiggin

Waltham – When the local banking industry grew up in the post-War era Waltham's Bill Wiggin grew up right along with it.

His first banking job came in 1945 at Waltham National Bank at 637 Main Street when, as a sophomore at Waltham High, he was tasked with manually imprinting customers names on the then cutting edge 'ThriftChecks' offered by the bank. A big deal in those days.

After high school he continued working at the bank until Uncle Sam called and Bill spent two years serving with the United States Army during the Korean War. Experience with the army's finance corps made for smooth sailing when he returned to civilian life in 1953.

From there Bill's responsibilities at the bank continued to grow as the bank did. The organization went through several mergers and acquisitions from Newton-Waltham Bank to BayBank, then the chief lender and bank for local business and industry.

When he retired Bill was the senior vice-president of the organization's commercial lending unit and saw it grow to a billion dollar enterprise. More importantly, for his customers, Bill was the quintessential banker . . . a quiet student not only of numbers but of human nature.

He'd developed an uncanny ability to parse through all of the very impressive data that bankers had come to rely on and could take the measure of the customer 'to the bank.' He hardly ever guessed wrong and there are countless stories of how he inspired growth, daring, and enterprise to grateful entrepreneurs throughout Waltham and the Metrowest area.

Bill's wisdom, experience, encouraging nature and calm demeanor came naturally to him and perfectly suited him in his chosen profession . . . and integrity was built into every dealing.

Mr. William F. Wiggin, of Waltham, died Wednesday, June 27, 2018, in his home following a period of declining health. He was 89. His wife of sixty-one years, Flora E. (Gray) Wiggin, died September 7, 2012 and not a day went by that Bill didn't miss her.

Bill was born in Waltham on December 9, 1928, a son of the late Ralph and Hazel (Tibbetts) Wiggin, and was a lifelong resident.

He graduated from Waltham High School in 1948 and later in life got his bachelor's degree from Framingham State College where he also served as a trustee at the time. Bill also earned a degree from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

He was long active in community affairs and held leadership positons with the Waltham Jaycee's, Waltham Boys & Girls Club, Waltham Rotary Club, Salvation Army, Reagle Players, Leland Home, First Congregational Church and the Isaac Parker Lodge, A.F & A.M.

Bill and his family spent many happy summers at their camp in Ocean Park Maine and later in life he and Flora spent time in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

He leaves his children, Donald M. Wiggin and his wife, Mary, of Saco, Maine and Janice M. Wiggin of Waltham; his grandchildren, Cheri Burke, Ben Wiggin and Molly Wiggin and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was also the father of the late Andrew F. Wiggin and William F. Wiggin, Jr., and the brother of the late Evelyn Cole.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bill's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, July 9th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Tuesday morning in The First Baptist Church, 400 Lexington Street, Waltham where his funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be to The Ocean Park Association, P.O. Box 7296, Ocean Park, ME 04063 or to Reagle Music Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452 or at www.reaglemusictheatre.org