Russell E. Wigh

Dr. Russell E. Wigh November 17, 1914 - January 26, 2011 The Wigh family regrets the passing of Russell E. Wigh, M.D., on January 26, 2011, in Columbus, Indiana, at age 96. Russ was born November 17, 1914, in Weehauken, New Jersey, to Joseph and Selma Wigh. He was educated at Rutgers University and Harvard Medical School. While in Boston he met and married Emily Clara Wyman on June 11, 1939, his wife of 66 years. After service in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Bellows Falls, Vermont, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in France during World War II. He retired from the Army Reserves as a Lt. Colonel. He received training as a radiologist at Jefferson Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia and then joined the faculty of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. In 1956 he was appointed Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta where he served until leaving in 1963 to go into private practice at the Bartholomew County Hospital in Columbus, Indiana. He also served as an associate professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine. In 1976 he and Emily returned to Augusta to retire and participate in research as Emeritus Chair and lived there until 2004 before moving back to Columbus for his final years. In addition to his family, his passions were his country, teaching, writing and raising cattle as a part-time farmer. Russ is survived by sons, Russell John Wigh (Deanne) of Savannah, Georgia, and Richard Joseph Wigh (Bambi) of Columbus, Indiana; and daughter Susan Wigh Faidley of Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He was very proud of his seven grandchildren: Kristen Wigh Goodman of Savannah, Georgia; Wendi Wigh Hendricks of Milford, Ohio; Mark Wigh of Trabuco Canyon, California; Brad Wigh of Caye Caulker, Belize; Jeff Wigh of St. Joseph, Missouri; Elizabeth Faidley of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; and Emily Faidley Holloway of Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He always had a special smile for his thirteen great grandchildren. Funeral Information After arrangements are finalized by Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home he will be laid to rest with his beloved wife Emily in a private graveside service at the Wyman family plot in Derby Line, Vermont.