William H. Riggins

Severy ? Services for William Harper Riggins, 83, Lawrence, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Severy United Methodist Church. Masonic graveside services will be conducted by Hope Lodge No. 155, Howard, and burial will be in South Lawn Cemetery, Severy.

Mr. Riggins died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, at Brandon Woods Retirement Community.

He was born Aug. 31, 1918, in Severy, the son of George Washington and Mabelle Olivia (Harper) Riggins. He graduated from Severy High School in 1936 and Kansas State Teacher’s College at Emporia in 1940 with a bachelor of arts and bachelor of science in education.

Mr. Riggins was a tool designer and draftsman at Boeing Aircraft Co., Wichita. During World War II, he served with the 20th Air Force and was stationed in the Pacific. After the war he returned to Severy to run Riggins Hardware store, which had been in his family since 1914. He sold the business in 1980. In 1998 he retired and moved to Lawrence.

He was a member of Severy United Methodist Church and Hope Masonic Lodge No. 155 in Howard.

He married Ruth Helen Gilkison on July 20, 1941, near Larned. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Cheri Brown, Kalispell, Mont., and Rochelle Simons, Hendersonville, N.C.; a son, Bill, Lawrence; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church and Hospice Care in Douglas County, sent in care of Zimmerman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1233, Howard 67349.