Richard Morrison Riggs

RIGGS- Richard Morrison. After a brief illness, Lt. Cmdr. Richard Morrison Riggs, USNR (Ret.) of San Antonio, TX, died peace- fully at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, August 19, 2007. He leaves his loving wife of 60 years, Katherine (Grace); daughter, Elizabeth (Riggs) Fermano and her husband, Paul of Marblehead, MA; son Richard Jr. of Kingsville, TX; grandson, Lt. John T., with the United States Navy, stationed in Bahrain; and granddaughters, Heather M. of Pompano Beach, FL and Katie of Kingsville. He was predeceased by: his son John; his daughter-in-law, Barbara; and his brother, Robert Jr. Born October 24, 1920 in Tulsa, to Robert Jennings and Helen (Winship) Morrison Riggs, Dick graduated from Tulsa High School in 1938 and from Dartmouth College in 1942. Upon graduation, he and many of his Dartmouth class- mates joined the Naval Aviation training program at Squantum, MA, becoming known as the "Dartmouth Indian Unit". As part of our country's "greatest generation", Dick served the U.S. Navy during World War II, flying PB4Y aircraft with the VPB 107 Patrol Bombing Squadron, patrolling the South Atlantic Ocean. He received 2 Navy Air Medals, commen- dation ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Southern Cross from Brazil. As a Lieutenant, Dick also served as staff pilot for Admiral Jonas Ingram, Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Dick and Katy met in 1946, while studying for Master's degree in Geology at Columbia University in New York City, and married in 1947. A highly respected petroleum geologist and an active member of the AAPG for more than 50 years, Dick worked as an executive for several oil com- panies including the former Stanolind Oil (now Amoco), Ashland Oil, Tesoro Petroleum, Abraxis Petroleum. He loved golf and sailing, and excelled at both. Some of his happiest times were spent golfing with friends and sailing with his family. A Memorial service in celebration of Dick's life will be 12 Noon, Friday, August 24, 2007 at St. David's Episcopal Church, San Antonio, TX, the Rev. James Murguia, officiating, the Rt. Rev. David Reed, Celebrant and the Rev. Lori Johnson, assisting. The family is grateful for the comfort and care Dick received from VistaCare Hospice. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. David's Episcopal Church, 1300 Wiltshire, San Antonio, TX 78209 or VistaCare, 4242 Woodcock Drive, Ste. 101, San Antonio, TX 78228. You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.porterloring.org. Porter Loring, (800) 460-2704. Richard Morrison Riggs VIEW AND SIGN THE ONLINE GUEST BOOK: www.legacy.com/tulsaworld