Thomas Morris Riggs

Obituary: Thomas Morris Riggs, age 74, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Catawba Regional Hospice, Sherrills Ford, NC after years from exposure to Agent Orange while serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He was born March 3, 1940 in Newport, Ohio, the son of the late Elmer Riggs and Matilda Farnsworth Riggs. He came from a family of twelve and later married his wife, Gladys Dell Riggs on July 15, 1977. Tom was a butcher for over twenty-five years in the Ruskin/Apollo Beach area of Florida He was employed with the following grocery stores: U-Save, Winn-Dixie, and later Publix throughout his career. Upon retirement he and his wife moved to Denver, NC to be closer to his family. He was a member of the Westport Baptist Church, Denver, NC. His family fondly remembers his love of family and also fondness for animals. Going on vacations with his family were high points in his life. The funeral will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel, Kannapolis, NC officiated by his son-in-law, Donnie Nash. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, NC with military rites. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home prior to the service. Survivors in addition to his wife include, three daughters, Teresa Nash of Denver, NC; Diane Locklear of Concord, NC; and Christine Goodman of Lincolnton, NC; four grandchildren, Tonya Tidwell, Johnny Beach, Brandi Baucom, and Amanda Neely; eleven great-grandchildren; three brothers, David Riggs and Robert J. Riggs, both of Ohio and Larry Riggs of Virginia; and two sisters, Sue Holpp of W.Virginia and Jean Ewing of Ohio. Memorials may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 52, Kannapolis, NC 28082 or Catawba Regional Hospice, 7473 Sherrils Ford Road, Sherrills Ford, NC 28673.
Visitation: 12:30-2:00 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home.

Service: 2:00 PM, Saturday April 12, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel.

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park.