Gene was born on May 29, 1945 in Sardis, Ohio, Monroe County, to parents John F. and Hazel (Fankhauser) Riggenbach. He graduated from River High School in 1963 and then in 1965 entered the Army and was in the Army Reserves until 1972. Gene moved to Kent, Ohio in 1967 and later moved into the house he built in Ravenna. He was a machinist and worked at Lamson & Sessions, later called RB&W and was also a part-time mason. He loved his job, especially keeping everything working, and retired in May of 2007. Gene loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Gene is survived by his wife, Ruth A. (Piatt) Riggenbach, whom he married in 1971 and their three children: Amy (Todd) Randolph, Kevin (Sandy) Riggenbach and Brenda (Brian) Reese. Left also to cherish his memory are his seven grandchildren: Ethan, Seth and Ivy Randolph, Collin, Cole and Cade Reese and Abigail Riggenbach. He also leaves his sisters: Eleanor (Roy) Schindler and Betty (Dwayne) Hardbarger and his two brothers: Vernon Riggenbach and Wayne (Clara) Riggenbach along with many loving nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ruth Headley, his brother-in-law Raymond Headley and sister-in-law Martha Riggenbach.
Friends will be received on Monday, November 26, 2018 from 5:00pm until 7:00 pm at the Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 E Main St, Ravenna. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, November 27, at 11:00 am with Kenneth Indermuhle officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna.
Memorial donations can be made to either the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Condolences and memories may be shared at wood-kortright-borkoski.com.
