Robert Gray Riggs

Robert (Bob) Gray Riggs, 94, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, died on January 13, 2023 while recovering from Covid. He was born May 31, 1928 in Camden, Arkansas to Harvey Wilhite Riggs and Alice Gray Riggs. Bob married Carmen Wright in 1952.

Music, faith and commitment to peace and social justice were central throughout Bob's life. He grew up in the Church of Christ as the son of a preacher and began leading singing at worship services as a boy. He earned a B.A. from David Lipscomb College and an M.A. from Peabody College, both in Nashville, TN.

For 16 years Bob served churches in Memphis and New Jersey as a minister. In 1968 he and his family moved to Long Island, New York, where he and Carmen taught elementary school music for 18 years in the Connetquot Central School District and worshipped with the West Islip Church of Christ.

Bob and Carmen worked for the Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, Pennsylvania, from 1993 through 1995 and later lived in Flicksville and Bethlehem. In fall 2019 they relocated to Kirkland Village in Bethlehem.

Innumerable friends remember Bob for his empathetic kindness and generosity. He loved camping, biking and hiking. He twice completed the strenuous Old Rag hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, at ages 80 and 85, during joyful summer reunion gatherings with his children and grandchildren.

Bob and Carmen participated in the Lehigh Valley Friends Meeting for many years. Also important to Bob was his involvement with LEPOCO, the Lehigh Valley-Pocono peace and justice organization, as well as many years of singing with the Lehigh University Choral Union and the Concord Chamber Singers. A fine tenor, Bob retired from choral singing when he turned 90.

Remembering Bob with love are family members Carmen, his wife of more than 70 years; daughters Sylvia Liroff (Rich) in Arlington, Virginia; Beth Riggs in Bethlehem; Bonnie Holt (Tom) in Durham, North Carolina; and son Kevin Riggs (Kathy) in Huntsville, Alabama. Also, nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter, as well as brother Jim Riggs of Plano, Texas and sister Norma Haynes of Memphis, Tennessee.

Memorial Service

Carmen and the Riggs family plan to host a memorial service for Bob on Saturday, March 25th at 1 pm. Meet at the Kirkland Village Auditorium located at 1 Kirkland Village Circle, Bethlehem. Extra parking is available at the neighboring Presbyterian Church parking lot.