EARLVILLE – Ralph H. Bigford, 90, of Clyde St., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 at Community Memorial Hospital, Hamilton.
He was born April 12, 1920 in Flint, MI, a son of the late Ira and Myrtle Abel Bigford and received his education in local schools. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the Philippines during World War II. On Aug. 5, 1943, Ralph married Vaune Lenore Wilson in Earlville. He was a painter and carpenter who, along with his brother William, operated Bigford Brothers for many years, employing their sons and grandsons, as well as several other area people. Ralph enjoyed fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. His garden, which he tended with love, supplied family, friends and neighbors with and abundance of fresh vegetables each summer. He also loved to play his harmonica and tell jokes.
Surviving are his wife, Vaune; son, Reginald Bigford and his fiancée, Deborah Mayne of Earlville; daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and James Stanton of Carthage; brothers and a sister-in-law, William Bigford of Earlville; Victor and Bert Bigford of Wakefield, Mich.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Shirley Morgan of Lanexa, Va.; Beatrice James of Poolville; Opal and Art Vanas of Holly, Mich.; Joanne and Bob Silverman of Needles, Calif.; Mary and Dave Greeve of Thurmont, Md.; grandchildren, Jennifer and Amos Burgess of Earlville; Stephanie and Dan Sills of Moss Beach, Calif.; Nichole Upton of Carthage; and Deanne Bigford of Sherburne; great-grandchildren; Miranda, McKenzie and Macie Bigford; Kyle and Caleb Burgess, Haley and Mitchell Upton; Sevie and Reina Sills; two great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Marguerite Bigford; a grandson, Aaron Bigford; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Bigford, and a brother-in-law, Walter James.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 3 Preston St., Earlville, followed by interment in the Earlville Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., prior to the service.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford, NY 13413. 
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.