Bill Riggs, 95, of Liberty, Missouri, died January 5, 2019. He was born October 7, 1923, in Ft. Worth, Texas, to Milford Dudley Riggs and Mary Ardelia (Prince) Riggs. When young, his family lived mostly in Webster Groves, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joanne Tolle (Howard) Riggs, on August 29, 1978. They were married May 24, 1948. He is survived by his dear sister, Mary Lou (Riggs) Palmer; his children Mary Eugenia Stilley (Jim), Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Robert “Bobby” Dudley Riggs, (Ruby), Paonia, Colorado, and Thomas “Tom” Howard Riggs (Mona), Liberty, Missouri; grandchildren Robert Stilley, Aaron Stilley, Jeff Stilley, Matt Riggs, J.J. Riggs, Stephanie Coburn, Jesse Riggs Horton, Leah Warren; and thirteen great-grandchildren, plus numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and too many friends to count.
Bill had a variety of careers: Admissions counselor for William Jewell College, Insurance Claims Adjuster, Minister of Education for Second Baptist Church of Liberty from 1959-1973, Saint Paul Title, self-employed Business Appraiser, and then School Bus Driver and “Number 1 Fan” of several Liberty High School teams as he drove them to special events.
Bill, sometimes called “Mr. Liberty,” loved his town and he lived a life of service to the community. During his college years at William Jewell College he gained the nickname “Senator.” Those years were interrupted by service in the Army during World War II, when he served in Patton’s Third Army, 11th Armored Division, and fought in the Battle of Bulge. After returning from his service, he graduated from William Jewell in 1947. Later he served on the WJC Alumni Board of Governors and in 1996, was honored with the first Alumni Lifetime Service Award. One of Bill’s proudest accomplishments was the co-founding (1973) and leadership of Liberty’s Meals on Wheels program.
Bill was Past President the Liberty School Board, serving as a Board Member from 1963-1972. He also served on the Missouri Baptist Home for the Aged Board of Trustees for many years; the home was founded by his grandparents. He was a member of the Liberty Hospital Board of Trustees 1996-2012 and received their Distinguished Service Award in 2007. Other community service awards include: Liberty School District Foundation Community Volunteer, 2006; Liberty’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award, 2002; and the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat at Kauffman Stadium in 2012. He was also a volunteer for Liberty Hospital Hospice, the very organization that helped ease his last days.
One of the greatest joys of Bill’s life was his involvement in Second Baptist Church, Liberty, where he was a member for seventy years. Worship services sustained his strong faith, and friendships he made there gave him great happiness. He sang in the church choir for 64 years and was active in leadership roles. Bill enjoyed crossword puzzles, travel, sports, and spending time outdoors. Most of all, he enjoyed time with his friends.
A memorial service will be held 4:30 p.m. Saturday, January 26, 2019; visitation preceding will begin at 2:30 p.m.; both at Second Baptist Church, 300 E. Kansas St., Liberty, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his memory to the Second Baptist Church Memorial Fund, Liberty Meals on Wheels, Our Lady of Mercy Country Home, or a charity of your choice.
Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.churcharcherpasley.com, as Arrangements are under the direction of Church-Archer-Pasley Funeral Home, 119 East Franklin in Liberty, Missouri.
