RIGGS, Harry W.
RIGGS, WOOD, CRAWFORD, MCNAMER, TAYLOR, BENEDICT, JOURIER, HERR, WILSON, KLISE, FREEMAN, WHITMORE
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 12/21/2008 at 15:35:24
"The Fairfield Ledger", Monday, December 15, 2008, Page 9
RIGGS, Harry W. -- Harry W. RIGGS age 92 formerly of Fairfield died Saturday, December 13, 2008 at the Bettendorf Health Care Center in Bettendorf where he had been a resident since August, 2007.
Visitation will be from 11 A.M. until Noon on Thursday at Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield followed by a graveside funeral at 12:30 P.M. at the Batavia Cemetery at Batavia. Funeral services conducted by Pastor Suzy Swahn.
A memorial service will be at a later date in Fairfield.
Harry was born June 11, 1916 in Udell, Iowa, the son of Roscoe and Oshia WOOD RIGGS. In 1934 after graduation from Lockridge High School, he entered the U.S. Navy. During his four year enlistment he was assigned to the U.S.S. Arizona, U.S.S. California and the U.S.S. Pennsylvania. After his four year enlistment he remained in California. He married Katherine Mac Kenzie CRAWFORD on February 10, 1940, in the First Christian Church in Long Beach, California. Harry worked at Vultee Aircraft, Bethlehem Steel and the Long Beach Navy Yard.
In 1944 he attended the Alameda, California Merchant Marine Officers Training School where he graduated with a Second Mates License and served on merchant ships during World War II. Afterwards, he obtained his Unlimited Masters License and continued serving on ocean going vessels until 1955. At this time he and his family moved to Fairfield, Iowa to engage in farming, although he never lost his love of the sea and could recount every detail of his experiences.
After the death of his wife in 2002, he moved to Bettendorf, then to Houston, Texas and then back to Bettendorf.
Harry was a member of the First Christian Church in Fairfield where he had served as a trustee and deacon; the Fairfield Lions Club; Jefferson County Farm Bureau; the U.S.S. Reunion Association, Soil Commissioner; and Cedar Township Trustee.
He is survived by his sons: Charles Roscoe (Ruby) RIGGS of Sugar Land, Texas; Wayne Marshall RIGGS of Raleigh, North Carolina; two daughters: Barbara K. Mac KENZIE of San Diego, CA and Dorothy E. (Douglas) McNAMER of Bettendorf, Iowa; six grandchildren: Tanya (RIGGS) TAYLOR of Houston, TX; Angela (RIGGS) BENEDICT of Van Couver, Oregon; Christophe JOURIER of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Karin (KILINGER) BENEDICT of Winona, Minnesota; Kim (KLINGER) HERR of Clarksville, TN; and Charles KLINGER of Bettendorf, IA; 3 stepgrandchildren; 6 great grandchildren and 3 sisters: Ruth WILSON of Rogers, Arkansas; Charlotte KLISE of Wakarusa, Kansas and Shirley (Gene) FREEMAN of Bettendorf, IA; 2 brothers Jerry (Ruth) RIGGS of Amana, IA and James (Rose) RIGGS of Des Moines, IA. In addition he has a host of nieces and nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his wife on January 8, 2002, who was the love of his life; his parents, one brother Wayne, killed in World War II, and one sister Vera WHITMORE.
The family would like to thank Dr. Andy Edwards and the entire staff of Bettendorf Healthcare Center for everything they have done for our loved one.
Memorials may be made to either the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield.
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"The Fairfield Ledger", Tuesday, June 16, 2009, Page 8
RIGGS, Harry W. -- Harry W. RIGGS, 92, formerly of Fairfield, died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2008, at Bettendorf Health Care Center in Bettendorf.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Batavia Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the service at Chautauqua Park.
A full obituary appeared in the Dec. 15 Ledger.
Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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