Claud E. Thigpen

Claud Eugene Thigpen, 83, of Taylor passed away Monday, July 15, 2013.
He was born on December 15, 1929 in Cuero, Texas to Samuel Claud and Volga Wanjura Thigpen.

He attended schools in Cuero and graduated from Cuero High School in May 1947. He attended Texas A & I College (now Texas A & M) in Kingsville, Texas for one year. Claud returned to Cuero and went to work for the Galveston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doing flood control surveys. His two favorite projects were the inter-coastal canal to Victoria, Texas and the Canyon Dam in New Braunfels, Texas. He returned to college at Victoria Junior College in 1950 and 1951.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in September 1951 and was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for basic training. After basic training, he was stationed at Fort Sill until October 1952 when he was sent to Korea and served there until September 1953. He returned to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio where he received an honorable discharge from the Army. Claud received the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Claud married Mary Louise Bowman in October 1953 and settled in Austin. Claud returned to college and received his BBA degree in 1956 from Texas State University with a major in accounting and auditing. Claud worked for the Texas Department of Health for 35 years as an Internal Auditor and retired in May 2005.

Claud married Theresa Jane Faul on December 21, 1990 and together they formed a large blended family consisting of Craig Thigpen, Lisa Thigpen Patrick and husband Scott, Brad Thigpen and wife Sherri, Ronald Faul and wife Becky, and Nancy Faul. His three grandchildren, Hunter Faul and Gage Faul, sons of Ronald and Becky Faul, and Halle Thigpen, daughter of Brad and Sherri Thigpen, were his pride and joy.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 P.M., Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Providence Funeral Home. Rosary will be recited at 7:00 P.M.

Celebration of Life Mass will be 11:30 A.M., Friday, July 19, 2013 at Providence Funeral Home. Burial to follow at 2:00 P.M. at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

Donations may be made to C.C.D. St. John Bosco at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church of Taylor, 113 Dickey Street, Taylor, TX 76574.