Children of Claude and Ardith Louise (BAILEY) BIGELOW:
16314.13521.51 Claudia Lee, b 24 Feb 1949 San Pedro, Los Angeles co, CA
16314.13521.52 John Claude, b 05 Aug 1950 Oceanport, Monmouth co, NJ.
Sources:
Family records;
Latter Day Saints microfiche records
Census records;
Forge: The Bigelow Society Quarterly; Vol. 22, No.1 page 4; Feb 1993
(below)
Forge: The Bigelow Society Quarterly; Vol. 31, No.1 page 8; Jan 2002
(see obituary below)
We twice honored Claude A. Bigelow at the August
1992 reunion at Cheyenne, WY. First as the oldest member
attending the reunion at the age of 82; secondly, we elected Claude as President
of our Bigelow Society.
He was born 27 July 1910 in Dannemora, Clinton co, NY, oldest of the five children of John Helmer 10 (BIGELOW and Pearl Eleanor HOFF (HAFF. Both of Claude's parents were born in Ellenburgh Center, NY.
He attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY on an athletic scholarship. Throughout the years, Claude has pursued his formal education, attending several universities, depending on where he was stationed. His persistence paid off and he now has a B.A. and an M.A. in Business Administration.
Claude is married to Ardith Louise BAILEY, known as 'Lee'. They have two children, Claudia Lee (BIGELOW) HOWARD and John Claude BIGELOW, and three grandchildren.
Claude spent twenty-two years in the Army Signal Corps. He entered in 1942 and rose through the ranks from private to major. Staying in the Army at the close of World War II, he retired in 1965.
After his retirement from the army he went into the dry-cleaning business. He has owned and operated several plants, in all spending about thirty-five years in the business. He has held the office of President in the Harbor Dry Cleaning Association, California Dry Cleaners Assoc., and International Dry Cleaners Assoc.
Claude's interests and endeavors cover a wide variety of activities. His Masonic career spans from DeMolay to Shriner, he has held the position of Boy Scout Master for five years, played the lead in many plays throughout high school, college, church, and Masons, and sang in several choirs. Claude dabbles in Real Estate and has property in California, Arizona and New York. He has travelled extensively especially in his motor home.
Claude is very sociable, friendly and outgoing; he loves to meet people
and enjoys life. If you have met Claude you know what I mean, if you haven't
you'll surely want to make it a priority.
He attended St. Lawrence University m Canton, NY on an athletic scholarship. Following in his father's footsteps, he worked ten years for the New York State Department of Corrections and later as a supervisor for M. P. Myers & Co. Throughout the years, Claude pursued his formal education, attending several universities, depending on where he was stationed. His persistence paid off and he graduated with a B.A. and all M.A. in Business Administration.
In July, 1933, Claude married Mary Louise White of East Chazy, NY; the marriage ended in divorce in 1947 with no children. Claude married Ardith Louise Bailey, known as "Lee," on 30 December 1947. They had two children, Claudia Lee (Bigelow) Howard and John Claude Bigelow.
Claude entered the Army Signal Corps in 1942 and rose through the ranks from private to major. He spent twenty-two years in the Army, retiring in 1965. He then went into the dry-cleaning business, opening and operating several plants, in all spending thirty-five years in the business. In 1975, he was named California Dry Cleaner of the year.
Claude was a very sociable, friendly and outgoing person, and had a wide variety of interests. He was always active in the Masonic organization, Army Associations and Dry-Cleaning Associations at all levels - local, state, national and international. He also held the position of Boy Scout Master for five years, played the lead in many plays throughout high school and college, and sang in several choirs. He travelled extensively with Lee, especially in their motor home.
Claude first heard about the Bigelow Society while travelling in his motor home. In Vancouver, he was having his hair trimmed at Sam Bigelow's shop and for the first time learned of the society's existence. Not long after, he visited Pat Bigelow in Fairbanks, Alaska and was a member of the Bigelow Society- from that time on. Claude was first elected as a director of the Bigelow Society at the Ft. Flagler, WA reunion in 1985. In 1992, at the age of 82, he was elected President at the Cheyenne, WY reunion, a position he held until 1995.
Claude was instrumental in getting his nephew, Rod Bigelow, a current director and keeper of the Bigelow Society web-site, involved at the Canton. NY reunion.
Claude is survived by his wife, Lee; two children, Claudia and John; several grandchildren; his brother, Roger Lynn Bigelow, and sister, Ruth (Bigelow) Banks. Burial was in the National Cemetery, Riverside, CA on 27 December 2001.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Forge: The Bigelow Society Quarterly; Vol. 14, No.4 page 7,1
Forge: The Bigelow Society Quarterly; Vol. 15, No.3 page 46
< rodbigelow@netzero.net > 
