Lt. Col. Joe Kenneth Piggott, 95, passed away at the Veteran Memorial Home in Kosciusko, Miss. on March 7, 2015.
Born July 13, 1919 in Stockham, Neb. to Joe and Elsie Piggott, Joe attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade before graduating from Stockham High School in 1937 where he was active in all sports.
After graduation, he farmed for three years and then worked at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, Calif.
In 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, earning his wings as a navigator guiding the B-29 Superfortress in WWII.
After being honorably discharged in 1945 to continue his education at the University of Nebraska, he graduated with a degree in agriculture. Following graduation, he mapped soils for the state of Nebraska.
With the start of the Korean War, he was recalled to active duty by the Air Force where he flew on the RB-47 bomber reconnaissance aircraft.
In 1953, he met and married Air Force nurse Virginia Callaway.
His career in the Air Force continued through the Vietnam War where he flew on C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and finally retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1967 to Gulf Shores. After retiring from the Air Force, he spent his time using his skills as a craftsman working with wood to build houses, piers and seawalls.
Joe was an active member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Gulf Shores and Calvary Baptist Church in Foley. After moving to Starkville, Miss. in 2006, he joined Faith Baptist Church.
Joe was preceded in death by parents, Joe and Elsie Piggott; sisters, Kathleen Willcock and Sylvia Miller; and son, Jed Piggott.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Virginia Callaway Piggott; daughters, Melissa and her husband Barry Mixon of Starkville, Miss. and Wendy and her husband Dan Smythe of Huntsville; four grandchildren, Jessica and Zach Mixon of Starkville and Jonah and Sam Smythe of Huntsville.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 11 a.m., at Jubilee Memorial Gardens in Daphne.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in his name to the church or charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope.
