July 8, 1946 ~ June 2, 2024 (age 77)
Dr. F. Ray Thigpen of Whiteville, NC passed away on June 2, 2024 at the age of 77 peacefully at his home.
He was born on July 8,1946 in Fair Bluff, NC, to the late Wilton Thigpen Sr. and the late Pheatress Thigpen. After he graduated from Fair Bluff High School in 1964, he went on to study chemistry at UNC. Once he graduated with a degree in Chemistry, he started his first job at Anson County High School teaching chemistry. There he met his first wife and the mother of his children. After a short stint in teaching he decided to pursue his passion for medicine and enrolled in medical school at UNC. From there he moved to Lexington, Kentucky to complete his residency.
In 1979 Dr. Thigpen moved to Whiteville, NC and opened Whiteville Medical Associates where he worked until his retirement in 2012. Dr. Thigpen dedicated his life to his practice and helping his local community. During his career in medicine he had a vast impact on Whiteville and surrounding areas. He played an intricate part in bringing the Angel House, part of the lower Cape Fear Hospice for the citizens of Columbus County where he served as medical director for several years. 
During his retirement he was dedicated to the revitalization of his home town of Fair Bluff, NC after two hurricanes caused devastating damage to the town. He was committed to the Depot Museum and restoring the history of Fair Bluff as president of the Fair Bluff Historical Society. He also authored several books during his retirement.
Dr. Thigpen is also preceded in death by his sister Dottie Batten.
He is survived by his brother Wilton Thigpen Jr. (Lynda), his sister Deborah Suttles (Bill), his three sons Johnathan (Nicole), Matthew (Kimberly), and Andrew and five grandchildren Landon, Hunter, Cailin, Ethan, and Lilly.
A celebration of life service will be held Thursday, June, 6th 2024 at 2pm in the Fair Bluff Baptist Church.
The family will have a time of visitation in the Fair Bluff Baptist Church Christian Life Center immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dr. F. Ray Thigpen nursing scholarship at Southeastern Community College 4564 Chadbourn Hwy. Whiteville, NC 28472 or the Angel House Hospice Life Care Center 206 Warrior Trail Whiteville, NC 28472 in honor of Dr. Thigpen.
A service of Meares & Jones Funeral Service of Fair Bluff.
