Obituary

William Paul Higgins Jr.
(December 10, 1924 - April 16, 2016)

William Paul Higgins, Jr., 91, of Huntington, West Virginia, passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2016 in Huntington with his family by his side. He was born on December 10, 1924 in Clifton Forge, Va., the son of the late Martha Estelle Kelly and William Paul Higgins. In addition to his parents Paul was also preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Betty Joan (Jody) Gallagher Higgins; his brother, Thomas Matthew Higgins and his wife, Marguerite; his niece, Marguerite Higgins Gasiorowski; brother-in-law John (Jack) Morrison Manner, Jr.; sister-in-law Helen Powell Gallagher Kerby; brother-in-law George Francis Kerby, and nephew, James Neff Houff. Paul was a graduate of Clifton Forge High School and a WWII Navy Veteran. After attending Virginia Tech, he worked for the C&O Railroad for many years in Clifton Forge, Va., Richmond, Va., and Huntington, W.Va., retiring as Superintendent of the Air Brake Department. He enjoyed time with his family, especially at his Camp on the Cowpasture River. As an Engineer and Master Craftsman, he used his many talents to improve his properties both on the Cowpasture River and his home in Huntington, as well as assisting family and friends. Survivors include his son, Paul Marshall Higgins and wife, Jane, of Richmond, Va.; daughter, Helen Bonsall (Bonnie) Cunningham Carpenter and husband, Tim, of Huntington; granddaughters, Taylor Marie Cunningham and Kelly Layne Cunningham both of Huntington; Grandsons, Captain Patrick Marshall Higgins of Ft. Hood, Texas and David Leslie Higgins of Richmond, Va.; his sister, Jean Ann Higgins Manner of Clifton Forge, Va.; three nieces and one nephew; Martha Manner-Brown and husband, Dennis, of Fredericksburg, Va., John Morrison Manner, III and wife, Meryl, of Northern Virginia, Dimmitt Kerby Houff of Blacksburg, Va. and Ann Kerby Wright and husband, Roy of Clifton Forge and numerous great nieces and nephews. A gathering of family and friends will be held Wednesday, April 20, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, where the procession will leave for a 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Thomas Collins, Celebrant. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to his caregiver Kathy and Dr. Jason Hudak. Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Huntington, Hospice of Huntington or the Organization of choice.