Submitted by: Dan Rich

Chester W. Waggoner

Jan. 11, 1905 - Dec. 15, 1998

South Bend Tribune 12/18/1998

Chester W. ''Chet'' Waggoner, 93, of West North Shore Drive, South Bend, Ind., died following a brief illness at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, in his residence. Mr. Waggoner was born on Jan. 11, 1905, in Paris Crossing, Ind., to Cordelia (Wyne) and Lamont M. Waggoner, and lived most of his life in the South Bend area.

On June 14, 1930, in South Bend, he married Anna DeVries, who preceded him in death on Nov. 1, 1985. He is survived by two daughters, Ellen D. (John) Nyberg of South Bend and Martha J. (Gordon) Norquist of Granger, Ind.; a son, Lamont M. ''Monty'' (Kris) Waggoner of South Bend; eight grandchildren, Ann Mamula, Sue Reber, John Nyberg, Jr., Carol Largent, Dean Chester Waggoner, Lamont M. ''Mont'' Waggoner, III, Margaret Foley and Gordon Norquist, Jr.; and by 16 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Waggoner was a co-founder of the Waggoner Coal & Fuel Company, which was founded in 1933, and had also worked for AT&T for 14 years. He was a graduate of South Bend High School and was an honorary alumni of Purdue University. He was involved for over 50 years with the Boy Scouts of America from whom he received the Order of the Arrow and Silver Beaver Award. Mr. Waggoner was a board member of the of the Salvation Army and Hamilton Foundation of the Hamilton Grove Retirement Community, and was a past president of the South Bend Exchange Club and the Indiana Oil Marketers Association. He helped establish the Chet Waggoner Little League in the early 1960s, established Waggoner's Dairy Farm, and was active for many years with the St. Joseph County 4-H where he was a contributor and member. He was also a member of the Coal Association, the Holstein Association and attended Epworth Memorial United Methodist Church for over 68 years, where he served as an active member, trustee, and on the Endowment Fund Committee. He also received the Stewardship Award from the church.