Edward Thigpen

Edward Thigpen, 72, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, in Virginia Beach, Va. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
He was born April 5, 1940, in Pink Hill, and married Joan Williamson Thigpen in 1960. A highly decorated Green Beret, he served in the U.S. Army for 22½ years in the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th Special Forces groups. He retired as command sergeant major in 1981.
He started his own construction business, Dominion Siding LLC, which he ran until 2005, when he retired to Pinehurst with his wife.
He was a Master Mason and member of Naomi Lodge No. 87 and the Moore County Shrine Club, and a member of Khedive Temple, Chesapeake, Va.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joan Williamson Thigpen; his children, Claudia Thigpen Anderson, of Virginia Beach, and Natalie Thigpen Whaley and husband, Robert, of Pinehurst; and grandchildren, Cameron Anderson, Chandler Anderson, Harrison Whaley and Meredith Whaley.
He is also survived by his sister, Sue Thigpen Tatem and husband, Tommy, of Virginia Beach; and his brother James H. Thigpen, of Hoopa, Calif.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home and Crematory of Southern Pines is assisting the family.