Obituary of Paul E. Bigley

Paul E. Bigley, Sr., 76, of Poinciana, Florida passed away on January 21, 2022 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 7, 1946 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Evan E. and Margery Urell Bigley. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, then moved to Florida on March 1, 1973. He had a hardworking, entrepreneurial spirit: he owned a landscaping business, then a handicapped transportation company that he named “Helping Hands.” After relocating to Central Florida, he worked as a property manager. Paul was a member of the American Legion Post 202 in Gettysburg, PA for 52 years, a member of the Solivita Veterans Club for 18 years, a founding member of the Solivita Shuffleboard Club, and a co-founder of the Solivita Horseshoes Club. Paul was a fan of all sports, but baseball was his passion. Growing up, he looked up to Roberto Clemente and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He loved spending time with family and friends playing dominoes, horseshoes, cornhole, shuffleboard, and marching with the veterans in parades. He was more comfortable on a ship than on land, he would say, logging over 1,000 days at sea between his military time and leisure trips to all seven continents. Paul and his loving wife, of 27 years, Carmen, cherished seeing the world together, embarking on several hemisphere trans-positioning cruises. All their sailing gave them top level status, enjoying the best buffets, shows, and accommodations. In Central Florida they set their anchor, forming the nucleus of a strong and loving family. Paul was a source of laughter and joy for all who knew him. His wit was quick and honest. His warmth, compassion, and loyalty were boundless. His Paul Jr. was the apple of his eyes. Together, they maneuvered through every special need with strength and persistence. Paul raised his wife’s children, Alex and Omar, as his own. He very quickly learned the rules of tennis as he shuttled them to weekly tournaments and cheered them on during high school matches. All the while, he mentored Juan Francisco and Esteban during their college years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Evan and Margery; his son, Paul E. Bigley, Jr.; and grandson, Quentin Spencer. Paul leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife, Carmen Bigley; daughter, Sharon (Michael) Spencer; sons, Juan Francisco, Esteban (Itzel), Omar (Alissa), and Alex (Jay) Garcia; grandchildren, Mykell Spencer, Andres, Thomas, Sofia, and Gaby Garcia; brother, Bob (Nell) Bigley and family; the entire Urell family; and his beloved family in Ecuador whom he adopted as his own. On Monday, February 7, 2022 at 9 am there will be a flag lowering ceremony, presided by the Veterans Club of Solivita, at Solivita Town Center Freedom Park in Poinciana, FL. Visitation with appetizers and memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 1001 E Grace Ave, Haines City, FL 33844. The day will conclude with military honors and burial at Forest Hill Cemetery (1/2 mile away) at 1:00 p.m. presided by the American Legion. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made to the Veterans Club of Solivita Scholarship Foundation in Honor of Paul Bigley Sr. at P.O. Box 581770, Poinciana, FL 34758.