Rufus William “Bill” Thigpen, 89, passed away on Nov. 28, 2023 at home with his family by his side. He was born on Nov. 13, 1934, in Henderson, Texas, to Albert J. and Pauline Cooper Thigpen.

Bill was a banker and later owned a Toyota and Chevrolet dealership. He retired at 50 years old to be near his family. He loved coaching his children in sports, fishing, traveling, playing poker, reading and watching the Houston Astros. His greatest joy was spending time with his family. He also served his country honorably in the U. S. Naval Reserve. Bill was known as “Merle Haggard” in several local restaurants. 

Those left to cherish his memory are his sister, Ann S. Yantis; his children, Billy Thigpen and wife, Tena, Irene Boston, Norman “Beaver” Thigpen and wife, Brenda, Meri Cormier and husband, Tony; his grandchildren, Natalie Thigpen, Bailey Thigpen, Corrigan Boston, Jackie Korman, Roxie Smith, Christina McCord, Jude Thigpen, Mason Thigpen, Claire Dufrene, Malia Thigpen, Tony Cormier, Kellee Moseley; his niece, Anne Simone Jansen; his nephew, Kenneth Wayne Yantis; fifteen great-grandchildren; and many extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Thigpen; his parents, Albert Jefferson Thigpen and Pauline Cooper Thigpen; his brother, James Thigpen, and his granddaughter, Ariel Thigpen.

Bill’s funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 in the Johnson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff Chapel. The Rev. Weldon Bares will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 9 a.m. until the start of the service at 12 p.m.

The family would like to give special thanks to Linda Jordan for her loving care and kind heart, and also Heart of Hospice for their respectful and professional nursing care.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.