Abe Zanuel Riggs Jr.

Abe Z. Riggs Jr. was born in Winfield, Louisiana on the 25th of February 1936 to Pauline and Abe Z. Riggs Sr, the eldest of four children. In 1952 he joined the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1977 with the rank of Command Sergent Major after serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. After retiring from the U.S. Army he went on to work for the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement when he was 58. On June 25th of 1958 Abe married his one true love Irma; together they had three children and six grandchildren. He was a proud and honorable man but that never stopped him from letting everyone around him know just how much he loved and respected them. He will be greatly missed by ALL who knew him.

Slideshow tribute (four part series):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWuH19Pk7_o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-nTh2POCY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE5TKGchnUY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKRLITIuVYQ

_______________________________________________

My Hero: The Eulogy

By Chelsea Gorrow

Oldest granddaughter

My opa was my hero.

I know most people think that when they're small, but the older I got, the more this became truth.

A hero is defined as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. My Opa possessed all three. As a Command Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army with a purple heart and a bronze star with an oak leaf cluster, he was a hero. As someone who retired after 25 years in the service to go to Idaho State University, finish four years of college in two years while remaining on the dean's list with high honors, he was a hero. And for someone married for 52 years, who took in his granddaughter and raised her as his own, making every sacrifice in the world to make sure I had a happy childhood and successful future, he was a hero.

Whether the sacrifice was renting a limo and dressing up as a limo driver to drive me and my friends to prom when all of the limos were taken...or going back to work to put me through college....or taking me shoe shopping, not one of his favorite things in the world.... or giving up his Tuesday nights to watch American Idol, and to vote for Carrie Underwood, the underlying messages in everything he did, the way he lived his life for his family, held the lessons I'll always have with me... the importance of honesty, the importance of family and the importance of faith. Opa told me everyday how proud he was of me and that he loved me, and for that, I learned the most powerful lesson of all...unconditional love.

Opa taught me everything I know. From how to read, how to ride a bike, how to use a hammer and how to fish... to how to drive, how to check the oil, how to use a map and how to change a tire.

We shared a special bond, from our love of reading and country music, to our love of my grandmother, our family and summer camping trips. We also shared a love of news, and he read every article I've ever written and called me after he got his paper to tell me which stories he liked best.

I miss my opa, my hero, my rock, and I know I always will. But I know he's in heaven and he'll always be watching over his little girl--a song he sang to me regularly and meant every word. I'll miss his laugh, his cheerful spirit, his strong character, and his phone calls-- to walk me to my car in the dark or to say goodnight every night. My dream in life was for Opa to walk me down the isle at my wedding one day and to dance with me at the father-daughter dance and although we'll never have that chance, I know he's in a better place and I thank God for giving me such an amazing and wonderful grandfather, father, friend and role-model. For these past 24 years, I have been truly blessed.

Not a day will go by that I don't think of him and wish he was here. Even though I wasn't ready to let him go, I know he'll never leave me. He was the first to hold me, when I was born, in the ICU, and I was the last to hold his hand as he took his final breaths, in the ICU.

My opa, my world, is at home now but his memory will live on forever in all of the lessons he taught and the lives he touched. I will always love you Opa and heroes never die.