Laura Belle Wigert

Laura Belle Wigert, age 97, died in her home in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, on Nov 12, 2016. She passed away peacefully in her sleep following declining health related to her age. Laura was born on February 8, 1919 in Warnock, Ohio, on her family’s farm located in the rolling hills of Southeastern Ohio. As a child, Laura enjoyed an agrarian, self sufficient lifestyle with her family. She graduated from Ohio State University in 1941 with a degree in home economics. While attending Ohio State University, Laura met her husband, J. William (Bill) Wigert, of LaGrange, Ohio. Shortly after her marriage, Laura and Bill moved to Summerville, South Carolina, during World War II, as Bill worked at the Charleston Navy Shipyard serving as a Naval Engineer and, following the war, to Berea, Ohio. In 1970, Laura and Bill moved to Ligonier, Pennsylvania. A few years after Bill’s death, Laura moved to Mount Pleasant in 1989. Laura is survived by her three children, J. William (Bill) Wigert, Jr., 72, and his wife Mamie, who reside in Point Reyes Station, California; Janet Rowe, 70, and her husband James, who reside in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; and Dennis Wigert, 67, and his wife Marianne, who reside in Evergreen, Colorado. Laura was preceded in death by her father, James Fulton, farmer and former Commissioner, Belmont, Ohio, County Board of Commissioners, and her mother, Martha Fulton, school teacher, who taught Laura and her siblings in a one room school. Laura is one of ten siblings, and is preceded in death by her brothers, George Fulton, St. Clairesville, Ohio; James Fulton, St. Clairesville, Ohio; Albert Fulton, Warnock, Ohio; Charles Fulton, Warnock, Ohio; and her sisters, Janet Kilgore, Glen Ridge, New Jersey; Mary Briner, Montpelier, Ohio; Martha Stebbins, York, Pennsylvania; and Anna Lee Shiflet, Columbus, Ohio. Laura is survived by her youngest brother, William Fulton, of West Milford, New Jersey. Laura will be remembered for her love and caring attention, her sense of humor, and her enthusiastic participation in many activities. She was an avid reader, teacher, fine cook, seamstress and oil painter. She was also an avid Ohio State Buckeye Football fan throughout her life. Laura enjoyed her extended family, including seven grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren who reside in South Carolina, Colorado, Washington, and California. A private gathering will be held in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Burial along side her husband, Bill, will be scheduled in the spring at the Sunset Memorial Park, North Olmsted, Ohio. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McAlister-Smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 RIFLE RANGE ROAD, MT PLEASANT, SC (843) 884-3833.