Obituary of David P Wiggins

David P. Wiggins, 57, of Burlington, passed away Sunday November 26, 2023 in the comfort of his home. 

David was born in New Orleans, LA on May 21, 1966 to Annette (Riche) Wiggins and Paul Wiggins of Picayune, MS. He was educated in the New Orleans’ public school system and graduated from Marion Abramson Senior High School as valedictorian, national merit scholar, and recipient of the Presidential Academic Fitness award for the state of Louisiana. This presidential award included a visit to Washington D.C., where he was personally recognized by Ronald Regan in the Rose Garden. David was a software engineer throughout the majority of his life. His interest in computers started at a young age, when his father brought home the KIM-1 computer. In primary school, he and his dad created a program that is now stored in the Library of Congress. He continued his education at Louisiana State University, where he would meet his wife Ting Ting and earn a degree in computer science. He later earned his master’s degree in software engineering at Brandeis University, and would continue on to work at the MIT X Consortium, BBN Technologies, and finally MIT Lincoln Laboratories. Some of his work with MIT Lincoln Labs Tactical Network is archived in the Arctic Fail Safe.

David was known to be an intelligent, responsible, funny, compassionate, disciplined, and humble man. Despite all his academic and professional success, David rarely drew attention to his accomplishments. As a boy, he loved trains, dogs, fish, biking and reading. He would often read the encyclopedia in his free time. He had several dogs during his lifetime (Ace, Tasha, Thumper, Sheri, Ralph, and Elsa) and would sometimes counsel other dogs who appeared to be having a rough time fitting in with the others. When he was younger, he also enjoyed running and fishing with his dad. In his adulthood, David was an amateur musician with Odaiko New England, and it brought him great joy to play with them. When playing taiko was no longer possible, David learned the guitar. He loved gardening for his wife, and he particularly liked daffodils and sunflowers. He grew the daffodils specifically for his wife, because they would bloom around April (her birthday month). He loved his wife and children, and he provided for them in all the ways he could and the best he knew how. He loved his older sisters, Lynda and Carol, very much, and cherished their visits during the time he was sick. 

David is survived by his wife Ting Ting Yeh of Burlington; his father, Paul Wiggins and step-mother Bonnie of Picayune, MS; his children, Wynn and Ada Wiggins; his sisters, Lynda Wiggins of Georgia and Carol Eastwood and her husband Bob of Schriever, Louisiana; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Wen Te Yeh and Mei Huey Yeh of Taiwan; his in-laws Connie Su of South Carolina, Ching Ching Yen of Santa Monica, CA, and Eric Yeh and his wife Jennifer of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA as well as many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visitation on Friday, December 1, from 4-7pm at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home 43 Winn St. Burlington. Interment will be private and at the convenience of his family. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at Pancan.org. For his online guestbook or to view his memorial slideshow, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net