Kenneth Edward Riggs, his four daughters’ first love, and his devoted wife’s only love,
was welcomed into Heaven by Jesus and a host of angels in the early hours of May 18,
2017. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee on January 14, 1924 and celebrated his 93rd
birthday this year.
Ken was the only child of Edward and Lillie Riggs, both deceased. He is survived by his
wife of sixty years, Bobbye Hindman Riggs, and his four daughters: Caroline Westfall
(David), Barbara Burnette (Jack), Felicia Cook (Jerry), and Hilary Littles (Jay). He is also
survived by his eight grandchildren whom he loved and supported in all their endeavors:
Alison, Riggs, Kiera, Preston, Rhett, Peyton, Sarah, and Grace.
A star player on his Memphis high school state championship team, Ken’s football career
was interrupted by WWII. He was drafted before graduation and served with Patton’s 3rd
Army during the European campaign. There he earned three Bronze stars along with
several other honors and medals.
After the war, Ken used the GI bill to attend college. He graduated from the University of
Alabama with a degree in Engineering and began his career at the Army Ordnance Corp
at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Ken was one of the bright young engineers who
dedicated their careers to developing our country’s space program. He was involved with
NASA’s Mercury, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. He was most proud of his
contribution to designing the Lunar Rover Vehicle used by the astronauts during the
Apollo moon missions.
Ken was an active member of First Christian Church, Kiwanis of Southeast Huntsville,
and a founding partner of the Test Division Investment Club, where he continued to serve
as president until his death.
Ken and Bobbye’s love story began in 1954 and they were married in 1956. Ken and
Bobbye were devoted to each other— he encouraged and supported her academic and
professional career and she was a loving caregiver to him through his last hours.
Our Dad loved many things in his life— God and country, his wife, girls and family, a
good steak, chocolate, a “Jack Daniels” on the patio with friends, card games, crossword
puzzles, a stimulating debate about almost anything, and of course Alabama football.
Roll Tide!! And we loved him—he may be just a name to you but he was the world to us.
Visitation will be held Friday evening, 5:00-7:00pm, at Laughlin Funeral Home. The
service will follow Saturday at 2:00pm at First Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to First Christian Church Building Fund.
