Obituaries

August 13 1917 to May 16, 2014

GALVESTON - John Bryon (JB) Riggs, a World War II veteran who taught at area high schools for more than 35 years, died Friday, May 16, at Northwoods Village, Kokomo. He was 96.

He was born in Johnson County on Aug. 13, 1917 to the late Charles and Meta (Saltwell) Riggs. He married Sara Martha Miner, his wife of nearly 63 years, in Windfall on June 17, 1951. She survives.

Also surviving are his children Susan (Rick) Rust, Kokomo; Tom (Marsha), Galveston; and Bob (Misty), Alabaster, Alabama; and a niece and several nephews.

He was preceded in death by siblings Naomi Ruth Budd and Homer, Helen, and Marie Riggs.

Mrs. Riggs grew up in Francesville and graduated from high school in 1935. He received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from Purdue University. He started teaching vocational agriculture and farming practices at Galveston High School in 1941. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the Army Air Corps at the rank of tech sergeant as a weather forecaster stationed in North Africa and Italy. He returned to teaching at Galveston High School in 1946 and started teaching at Kokomo High School in 1957. He retired in 1981 from Haworth High School, where he had taught biology and related sciences. At Haworth, he started the outdoor science lab.

Mr. Riggs was an active member of the Galveston United Methodist church, where he taught the Willing Workers Sunday School class for more than 50 years. He was a charter member of the Galveston Lions Club, a member of the Galveston American Legion, and a member of the Howard County Retired Teachers. For more than 30 years he was a 4-H club leader in Cass County.

In 1958 the family bought a 1939 International school bus and converted it into a motor-home. “Alice in Wonderland” took JB and Sara (with family) to every state capital, except Hawaii, and every provincial capital of capital of Canada – more than 250,000 miles.

The family would like to thank the many former students who have stayed in touch with Mr. Riggs over the years. The family would also like to thank the wonderful people at Reflections of Wellington for their care of Mr. Riggs for the last two and one-half years.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday; and one hour before the service on Tuesday at the church. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday (May 20) at the Galveston United Methodist Church. Pastor Roy Ice will officiate. Burial services will be held a Galveston Cemetery following the funeral service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Galveston United Methodist Church memorial fund, PO Box 639, Galveston, Indiana 46932.

Murray Weaver Funeral Home in Galveston assisted the family with arrangements.