Lawrence Melvin Riggs, 84, of Wyandotte, Oklahoma, formerly of Chetopa, Kansas, died at 6:51 a.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at his home.
He was born December 24, 1924, in Webb City, Oklahoma, to Charles G. and Grace (McKnight) Riggs. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Grove, Oklahoma, and Coffeyville, Kansas.
At the age of 17, he began working at Jensen Manufacturing Company in Coffeyville. While there, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy and served two years in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, as a 3rd Class Petty Officer-Welder. Following his discharge, he returned to Jensen Manufacturing where he worked a total of 18 years. In the 1950's, he owned and operated a radiator and body shop in Chetopa. In 1963, he moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where he worked as a first class welder at Owens Corning Fiberglass Company, retiring from there in 1987. Upon his retirement, he returned to Chetopa.
He and Eva Mae Dewey were married in December 1945. There were two children born to this union, Carol Tex and Melvina Diane. In 1953, his wife was killed in a car-train accident.
He then married Genevieve (Rexwinkle) Wilson on August 7, 1954, in Bentonville, Arkansas. She preceded him in death February 19, 2005. Following her death, he moved to Wyandotte, Oklahoma, to be near family, and had lived there since.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
SURVIVORS:
One Daughter – Diane Basich Sacramento, CA
One Stepson – Rodger Wilson Chetopa, KS
Three Stepdaughters – Shirley Bell Chetopa, KS
Sharon Thomas Welch, OK
Rita Grossman Independence, KS
Numerous Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren & Great-Great-Grandchildren
One Sister – Victory Jenkins Wyandotte, OK
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Carol Tex Riggs; and two sisters, Ester Kubley and Nelda Ruth Hardy.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 1, 2009, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery, rural Bartlett. Friends may call at their convenience from 1-5:00 p.m., Sunday, at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from noon until service time at the funeral home on Monday.
Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence Melvin Riggs, please visit our flower store.
He was born December 24, 1924, in Webb City, Oklahoma, to Charles G. and Grace (McKnight) Riggs. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Grove, Oklahoma, and Coffeyville, Kansas.
At the age of 17, he began working at Jensen Manufacturing Company in Coffeyville. While there, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy and served two years in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, as a 3rd Class Petty Officer-Welder. Following his discharge, he returned to Jensen Manufacturing where he worked a total of 18 years. In the 1950's, he owned and operated a radiator and body shop in Chetopa. In 1963, he moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where he worked as a first class welder at Owens Corning Fiberglass Company, retiring from there in 1987. Upon his retirement, he returned to Chetopa.
He and Eva Mae Dewey were married in December 1945. There were two children born to this union, Carol Tex and Melvina Diane. In 1953, his wife was killed in a car-train accident.
He then married Genevieve (Rexwinkle) Wilson on August 7, 1954, in Bentonville, Arkansas. She preceded him in death February 19, 2005. Following her death, he moved to Wyandotte, Oklahoma, to be near family, and had lived there since.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
SURVIVORS:
One Daughter – Diane Basich Sacramento, CA
One Stepson – Rodger Wilson Chetopa, KS
Three Stepdaughters – Shirley Bell Chetopa, KS
Sharon Thomas Welch, OK
Rita Grossman Independence, KS
Numerous Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren & Great-Great-Grandchildren
One Sister – Victory Jenkins Wyandotte, OK
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Carol Tex Riggs; and two sisters, Ester Kubley and Nelda Ruth Hardy.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 1, 2009, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery, rural Bartlett. Friends may call at their convenience from 1-5:00 p.m., Sunday, at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from noon until service time at the funeral home on Monday.
Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence Melvin Riggs, please visit our flower store.
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