Vernon Martin Tigner, 94, of Fayetteville, NC passed away peacefully at home on June 26, 2012. Vernon was born 1917, Riverton, AL. The son of a sharecropper, they moved and he was raised on a farm in Iuka, MS in the height of the depression. Vernon became career military in the US Army where he retired as a CWO3. He served in WWII where he was captured in Germany, became a POW and escaped towards the end of the war. He served in the Korean War. He was twice awarded the Bronze Star for Distinguished Service. He married Dorothy Jean Tigner who was still at his side yesterday after 66 years of marriage. He raised three sons. He served his family, country, his community and his church throughout his life. Always expressing his love for Christ through Service, not so much through words. Christian, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Patriot. Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 29, 2012 at 11 o'clock am at St. Andrews United Methodist Church with Dr. Gerry Davis and Rev. Haywood Smith presiding. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10 to 11 am at the church. Vernon is survived by his wife, Dorthy Jean Tigner; three sons, Joel Martin Tigner and wife Laurie of Rapid City, South Dakota, John Dean Tigner and wife Cathy of Apex and Bill Tigner and wife Carla of Trussville, AL; grandchildren, Sita Dilfer, Zachary Tigner, Drew H. Tigner, Chase Tigner, Matthew Tigner, and Carr Tigner; and great-grandchildren, Stacia Dilfer and Sadie Dilfer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrews United Methodist Church Building Fund, 121 Lofton Drive Fayetteville, NC 28311or to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105. Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 29, 2012 at 11 o'clock am at St. Andrews United Methodist Church with Dr. Gerry Davis and Rev. Haywood Smith presiding. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10 to 11 am at the church.