Harold S. "Stan" Riggs

Lt. Commander Harold Stanley Riggs, USN, went to be with the Lord on the morning of August 22nd, 2009, while surrounded by nearly a dozen loving family members at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, TX.

A visitation (6:00-7:00 p.m.) and memorial service (7:00-8:00 p.m.) will be held on Monday, August 24th, at Piersall Benton Funeral Home.

In the words of his family, Stan (more affectionately called “Boppa”) was “tender,” “generous,” “selfless,” “robust and industrious,” “humble,” and “a man who served and gave to others with understanding, integrity and godly confidence.” He was devoted to his family, inspiring the best in his sweetheart, wife Ginny Riggs of 64 years, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren—a gift to all who knew him. His long and fruitful life has been marked by consistent courage and kindness.

Stan was born to Ralph and Hazel Riggs in Long Beach, California on February 1, 1924, and raised in San Jose, California primarily by his mother and Grandmother Grace Curry. While in his senior year of high school, the war broke out with Japan and in September of 1942, Stan enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following boot camp in San Diego and aviation metal-smith school in Oklahoma, he attended his first duty station in Alameda, California. There, he was accepted into the Navy’s program of training enlisted airplane pilots and soon transferred to his first school (NWS College) in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he met Virginia Louise Walker. She followed him to his next training station in Athens, Georgia where they were married on June 16th, 1945. Although the war was soon ending, Stan continued his flight training and won his wings in 1947 as a petty officer First Class. During the next 15 years of duty in various stations, countries and squadrons, Stan was selected as a commissioned officer and served out his 30 years, attaining the rank of Lt. Commander. During this time, he accumulated over 10,000 hours of flight time in some 36 different types of aircraft including transports, bombers, seaplanes, single and multi-engine fighters and jets. His duty stations included Japan, the Philippines, South America, a tour in Vietnam and both East and West Coast Naval Air Stations.

During retirement Stan served as an elder in Hayward and Paradise, California, and since 1995 was an active member of Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, helping with small group meetings and Widow-Widower Luncheons. A master craftsman, Stan lent his generous talent to church building construction efforts, home design and renovation, countless family gifts, and to the fashioning of more than 200 sculptures depicting Christ's resurrection which he affectionately called his "creations." He was well known for his ability to repair furniture of every kind and to restore antiques so masterfully that the original pieces were indistinguishable from the restored.

Stan is survived by his wife Virginia (Ginny), his two daughters Susan Garcia and Peggy Langford and their families, and his son Ed’s children and grandchildren. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Stan's favorite non-profit, Eternal Threads, P.O. Box 3637 Abilene 79604. Condolences can be offered online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.