Willamae Florene Riggs passed away on January 21, 2019. She was born in Tonkawa, OK on July 23, 1924 to William and Virgie Coultrup. Throughout her life, she lived in Laverne, OK, Dallas, TX, and San Diego, CA. She graduated from Laverne High School where she played for the Laverne High School Women’s Basketball Team. After High School, Willamae was a member of a gospel trio singing group. They were even featured on the radio in Dallas. She also worked as a cook at the 101 Ranch in Ponca City after High School.
During World War II, Willamae was a Rosie the Riveter civilian worker at the McDonnell-Douglas Air Force Base in San Diego. Later she married Clauston Devere “C.D.” Riggs, and together they had 3 children. They were married from 1942 to 1965. She worked at the Conrad-Marr drugstore as a cosmetic and drug clerk for 40+ years. She was a lifelong fan of basketball and football.
Willamae had a good heart; at one point in her life, Willamae was on the news because she was taking care of the cats that were left behind at a trailer park. They were abandoned by their owners, and because of the kind person that she was, Willamae took care of them. She was also a She was loved by all who knew her, and will be greatly missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Virgie; husband, C.D.; and brother, Donald.
She is survived by her 3 children, Robert, Diana, and Suzanne; 2 grandchildren, Tamara and John; and many other family and friends.
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