Major Robert "Bob" Biggins

Major Robert "Bob" Browning Biggins, USAF (Ret.) 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in San Antonio, TX. He was born on March 16, 1937, in Boston, MA, to the late William Henry and Ruth (Griswold) Biggins. Major Biggins grew up as a longtime resident of Hazardville, now an incorporated section of Enfield, CT. Hardworking and industrious from the outset, Bob started his working career in the tobacco fields of Connecticut at 14, earning and saving enough money to buy his cherished first car, a 1934 Plymouth, even before getting a drivers license! In his youth, Bob was deeply involved in the Boy Scouts and was extremely proud to be one of the two very first Eagle Scouts in Troop 108 in 1952. His early commitment to leadership and service in the Boy Scouts laid the foundation for a distinguished military career. Bob graduated from Enfield High School in 1955, and then attended the University of Connecticut where he was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and Pershing Rifles Drill Team. After graduating from UCONN in 1959 with a degree in Geology, Bob was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force attending Undergraduate Pilot Training in Bartow, FL flying the T-37 and T-33 earning his Pilot Wings in 1961. During his 21-year career that followed, Major Biggins flew as Aircraft Commander, Instructor, and Evaluator Pilot in the C-124 Globemaster II, C-141A Starlifter, C-7 Caribou, and C-140 Jet Star (his favorite). While flying the Jet Star, he flew many dignitaries, including then Vice President Gerald Ford, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and General of the Army (Ret) Omar Bradley. Major Biggins was a highly decorated airman, earning numerous medals for valor and extraordinary achievement and bravery during flight including the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals during his tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. He flew all over the world including tours at Dover AFB, DE; McChord AFB, WA; Cam Ranh Bay, RVN; Andrews AFB, MD; and Rhein-Main and Ramstein AB, Germany. He visited every continent except Antarctica. After retiring from the Air Force, Bob continued his flying career as a Captain on the Boeing 737 for 18 years, flying Special Missions out of McCarran Int'l Airport, Las Vegas, NV. Bob was preceded in death by his former wife Cecilia Anna Vera Lieberath, and later his beloved wife Terry Jones Biggins. He is survived by his two sons, Colonel Ian Biggins, USAF (Ret) of San Antonio, TX and Scott Biggins, M.D., of Pittsburgh, PA. Also surviving are siblings, Richard "Dick" Biggins of Asheville, NC and Lori (Biggins) Sullivan of Cedaredge, CO and grandchildren, Erik and Anna Biggins. Family and friends are invited to Visitation on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield, CT. A graveside service with full U.S. Air Force military honors will follow at the Hazardville Cemetery in Enfield. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that instead, any donations be made to support Scouting of America Troop 108; c/o American Legion Post 80, Attn: Rick Gorman, 566 Enfield St., Enfield, CT 06082. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.leetestevens.com.