LONNIE LEE WIGGINS

Lonnie Lee Wiggins was born in Dinuba, California, to Clarence and Ruby Wiggins on July 3, 1939. Lonnie was the oldest
of three children. His brother was Melvin Wiggins and sister, Carole Foster. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Clarence and Ruby, and his sister, Carole.
Lonnie was saved at the age of eight years old and baptized by the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church (MBC) of Dinuba
in 1954. He surrendered to preach on November 10, 1956, at age 17. Three days after he made known his call to the
ministry, he preached his first sermon, “Christ Our Mediator” at his home church in Dinuba and was licensed to preach
by that church on November 23, 1956.
On September 14, 1957, Lonnie married his high school sweetheart, Eunice Marie Hampton. Shortly after, they left their
home to move to Henderson, Texas, where Lonnie attended Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary (TBI). He was ordained
by the Calvary MBC in Henderson on November 19, 1957, and received his Master of Theology Degree from TBI in 1962.
While in Texas, he pastored County Line MBC and Corinth MBC of Timpson, and Grandview MBC of Henderson. During
their time in Texas, Lonnie and Eunice were blessed with their first child, Brian Keith.
In May of 1963, Lonnie and his family returned to California to pastor the Landmark MBC in Pittsburg. It was during this
time that Lonnie and Eunice were blessed with their second child, Cheryl Denise. From there he pastored the First
Landmark MBC in Visalia followed by the Landmark MBC in Sunnyvale where they were blessed with their third child,
Darla Jean.
Lonnie also pastored the Central MBC in Downey, First MBC in Salinas, Emmanuel MB Mission in Fremont, Landmark
MBC in Waterford, and the First MBC in Redlands where he remained for 16 years until he retired in 2009. Lonnie was
involved in local, state, and national associations and served as a seminary teacher, treasurer and clerk.
Lonnie dedicated his life to the Lord from a young age and never faltered from putting the Lord first in everything. The
fire and power of his preaching were only matched by the compassion and tenderness of his invitations to come to the
Lord, because he recognized that accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation was the most important thing in life. His
dedication to the truth and to the preaching of the gospel to everyone he met set an example of what it means to truly
be a disciple of Christ. He was always true to that calling.
Lonnie loved watching old black and white TV shows like Gunsmoke and reading books in great numbers. He finished so
many sudoku puzzles it was difficult to keep him supplied. But mostly, he loved talking about the Lord and heaven. If you
asked him a question about the Bible, you better be ready to get asked a question instead of being given an easy
answer. He wanted you to go study God’s Word for yourself. This was the kind of man he was. Lonnie always cared for
the person first when counseling, pastoring or just being a friend, and he sought to mentor others while leading them
towards Christ in a loving and encouraging manner.
As a father, he always put the needs of his children above himself while engraining in them a love for God’s Word,
family, and the Lord’s churches. Even to those who were fatherless, he became a father figure and role model. He was a
loving and faithful husband who was devoted to his wife of sixty-six years, until his last breath. He cared and showed
compassion for everyone around him in all the ways that mattered and he touched the lives of countless people with his
fervor, fun and passion for all that he pursued. Lonnie’s passing leaves a legacy of love that will never be forgotten by
those whose lives he touched. He will be sorely missed until that great reunion day with the Lord.
Lonnie is survived by his beloved wife Eunice, three children Brian Wiggins (Shari), Cheryl Budd (Mark) and Darla
Goodrum (Collin); eight grandchildren Steven, Kristen, Daniel, Philip, Aaron, Alyssa, Alison and Madeline; and ten great-
grandchildren.

Funeral service will be on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11 O'Clock in the morning at First Missionary Baptist Church, Redlands, CA.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California

©copyright 2023 Akes Family Funeral Homes

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