Robert G. "Bob" Biggar, a 60 year resident of Wakefield, passed into eternal life on Friday, December 21, 2012 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital in Melrose following a brief illness. He was 89 years old.
Bob was born in Liverpool, England on October 23, 1923, a son of the late Frank Biggar and Nora (Grist) Biggar. He grew up in Liverpool, England where he attended school there. In August of 1939 at the age of 15, Bob persuaded the British authorities to allow him to become a merchant marine. He would be 16, the required age to join, in October. After 3 days at sea, England declared War on Germany. His ship began transporting military troops from one port to another between England and Australia. While he was working on the British Merchant Vessel Dorset in 1942, the ship recieved extensive damage by enemy attack during the Malta Convoy's Operation Pedestal and was sunk. Bob was a British Merchant Mariner from 1939 to 1952. Bob immigrated to the United States with his wife and first born son, and settled in Wakefield in 1952. Bob began working as a truck driver in Boston for his British shipping company. Eventually he became a driver for Happy Valley Dairy of Wakefield and Elk Spring Bottling Company also in Wakefield. In 1958, Bob began working as a custodian for the Lynnfield Public School system and retired as Supervisor of custodial services for the Lynnfield school system in 1988 after 30 years of service to the town of Lynnfield.
Bob is the beloved husband of 62 years to the late Jean (Anderson) Biggar. He is the devoted father of Christopher P. Biggar and his wife Mary of Limington, Maine and the late Jonathan B. Biggar. He is the beloved father-in-law of Jill Biggar of Reading. He is the loving Grandpa to Lee Biggar and his wife Deb of Hampstead, New Hampshire, Erica Biggar of Wakefield, Jeffrey Biggar of Reading and his great-grandchildren; Jonathan, William and Eleanor Biggar.
Bob's Funeral Services and burial will be private.
Memorial donations maybe made in Bob's name to the Wakefield Food Pantry, c/o First Baptist Church, 8 Lafayette St. Wakefield, Mass. 01880.