Obituary of Thomas Barnes Wignall

Thomas Barnes Wignall Penn Yan/Dundee: Thomas Barnes Wignall, age 83, of St. Mark's in Penn Yan, (formerly of Dundee, NY) died Saturday October 16, 2021 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital, in Penn Yan, NY. The Family will receive friends from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Saturday Dec. 18, 2021 at the Baird Funeral Home 36 Water St. Dundee, NY 14837. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Soldiers & Sailors Hospital Memorial Fund 418 N. Main St. Penn Yan, NY 14527. Thomas was born February 8, 1938 in Rochester, NY, the son of the late Wilbur Calvin and Doris Anna (Barnes) Wignall. He moved to Dundee when he was in eighth grade, and he graduated from Dundee Central School in 1955; he continued his education at Bob Jones University in Greenville S.C., receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Theology in 1958. Thomas then became a Pastor and he served in several churches throughout the 1960's, including Middlesex Baptist Church in Middlesex, NY. Mr. Wignall had a plethora of work experiences and passions throughout his life. In the 1970s and 1980s he worked at Knapp & Schlappi Lumber Co. in Barrington and then Penn Yan. During this period, he also served as Justice of the Peace and then as Supervisor for the Town of Tyrone, NY. He was also an art teacher at Hammondsport Central School for one school year. In the 1980s and 1990s, Thomas had his own sign painting business in Dundee, NY under the name Tom's Signs, and he was also a bus driver for Dundee Central School. In the 1990s, Thomas served as Code Enforcement Officer for the Village of Dundee and the Town of Starkey, NY, a job that he held until he retired in 2000. His passions were even more diverse. Thomas enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, woodworking and carving, and he loved to paint, creating many watercolor landscapes over his lifetime. Thomas also collected stamps and Indian relics, which he proudly showed to friends and school children. Thomas loved music and singing, and he played numerous instruments including ukulele, banjo, violin, trombone, harmonica and keyboards. Thomas also performed in several plays as a member of the Penn Yan Theater Company. Thomas was affectionately known as "Pops" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is loved and will be dearly missed by his 4 children Susan L. Buongiorno of Manchester, CT, David T. (Briana) Wignall of Penn Yan, Stephen M. (Jennifer) Wignall of Temecula, CA, Judith A. (Richard) Moravec of Penn Yan; his 7 grandchildren Jeremy (Terry) Wignall, Sarah (Andrew) Hilker, Sean (Jennifer) Wignall, Danika (Chris) Balfour, Bryce (Celeste) Moravec, Alycia Moravec, Sydney Moravec; and his 5 great-grandchildren Caden, Jonah & Niko Hilker, Nash & Shelby Balfour. Thomas was pre-deceased by the mother of his children Carolyn Knapp White in 1988; his second wife Charleen Wignall in 1997; and his sister Shirley A. Osterling VanGeyten in 2011. Arrangements are entrusted with the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water Street, Dundee, NY; to leave online condolences to the family visit www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com