Stanley Hopkins Wiggin

ONEONTA, N.Y. - Stanley Hopkins Wiggin, died Saturday, July 12, 2008. Born in Hyde Park, Mass., he married Barbara Bradway in Union, Conn., on Dec. 26, 1942. Barbara died of leukemia on April 13, 1954. He remarried Marcella Roy on Aug. 22, 1954.

Stan Wiggin developed his interest in dairy cattle while a student at the University of Massachusetts from whence he graduated in 1939. He became DHIA supervisor in 1940 and in 1942 entered the University of Connecticut's Extension Service where he served until becoming the first manager of the Connecticut Artificial Breeding Association in 1945. Insemination of dairy cattle remained his vocation until 1972 when he left Sire Power, Inc. of Tunkhannock, Pa., and established himself as a genetic consultant to dairymen on an individual basis. He worked with many leading herds in the northeast from New England as far south as Virginia. In recent years, many of his closest friends were among herd owners he advised.

He early became active in the affairs of his local church maintaining his membership in whatever location became home from Connecticut through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and eventually settling in Worchester, N.Y., where he had resided since 1975. He had been a member of one Presbyterian, three Methodist, and two Baptist churches. He was a lay leader in two Methodist churches and a deacon in both Baptist churches.

He was also active in many agricultural organizations including Grange, Extension Association, and Holstein breed organizations. In later years, he owned a few well-bred cows and enjoyed moderate success in the art of breeding to maintain or even improve high standards of quality. He enjoyed music and many choruses and choirs throughout his lifetime heard his resonate bass voice. He was a wizard with words, a master gardener who shared his harvest, and delighted in telling a good story. He valued his family, his friends, and his faith in God. Always the optimist, he may well be best remembered for his quick wit and spicy sense of humor - a family trait he was born with and married twice into.

He is survived by his wife, Marcella; his four children, Karen O'Neil, of Prescott, Ariz., Ellen Wiggin, of Brownfield, Maine, Howard Wiggin, of Warriors Mark, Pa., and Sal Wiggin, of Fairfax, Vt.; six grandchildren, Andrew Cizmar, Joseph Cizmar, Margaret Inglis, Brent Simoneau, James Wiggin, and Barbara Simoneau; and great-grandchildren, Brent O'Meara, Erika Cizmar, Margaret Cizmar, Catherine Inglis, Grace Cizmar, and soon-to-arrive, baby girl Inglis.

A memorial service is to be held Saturday, Aug. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Second Baptist Church, 62 Main Street, Worchester, N.Y. Memorial contributions may be made to the Second Baptist Church, 62 Main Street, Worchester N.Y., 12197 or the Frankford Plains United Methodist Church, 99 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ 07822.