Wilfred Paul Riggs
May 18, 1922 — January 21, 2016
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Wilfred Paul Riggs
Wilfred "Paul" Riggs Jr. of Hull, MA died peacefully on January 21st. He was surrounded by his family, along with his wife Lorraine Varney Riggs and the compassionate, expert staff at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was 93.
In November, Paul was one of only seven surviving World War II veterans in Hull, MA. Honored at the town's Veteran's Day celebration, Paul was recognized for his service in the Army Air Corp in World War II, as well as for piloting a P-51 "Mustang" fighter plane in the Korean War. In Korea, he flew exactly 100 reconnaissance missions as a member of the 45th Tactical "Polka Dot" Squadron. The men in their unit proudly sported helmets and scarves with their signature polka dots.
During his military service, Paul rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, earning the following military honors: the World War II American Theatre Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Throughout his life, Paul's family took pleasure listening to his stories of his military flying adventures. One particularly harrowing incident occurred when the instruments of his airplane suddenly stopped working, forcing him to navigate a safe landing through a thick fog, guided only by the lights of the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge. In Korea, he executed a difficult landing, setting his plane down safely in a rice paddy.
Paul was born in Trenton, NJ, to the Rev. Wilfrid P. Riggs Sr. and Pauline Swisher Riggs. Paul studied at Park College in Missouri and graduated from Columbia Business School in New York. A dedicated entrepreneur and amiable businessman, Paul was an award-winning salesman for the Brandt Company in New York City. Later, he founded his own company, Clean Air of New England, in which he sold and installed air purifying systems.
In 1974, Paul moved to Manchester, NH where he lived for 28 years before relocating with Lorraine to Hull. He was an active member of both the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, NH and after moving to Massachusetts, joined the Old Ship Unitarian Universalist Church in Hingham.
Paul had an ever-expanding dedication to social justice, as evidenced in his support for Veterans for Peace, PFLAG and Sustainable South Shore. He remained involved in politics, economics and world affairs.
Along with Lorraine, Paul held a deep love of music, singing tenor with the New Hampshire Symphony Chorus, Manchester Pro-Musica and other choral groups. He loved to sail at his camp on Loon Pond in New Hampshire, as well as build and fly kites with the younger members of his family.
Father of four children with Phyllis Pitt Riggs, he is the parent of and survived by Elsbeth Weller and her husband David of Arizona, Paul David Riggs and his wife Sharon of Hooksett, NH, Victoria Riggs Selleck and her spouse Jill Selleck of Shelburne Falls, MA and Catherine Joy Flemming and her husband David of Peterborough, NH.
Along with Lorraine and his children, Paul is also survived by his sister Mary Wells of New Jersey, his step-children Dean J. Varney and wife Erin DeCurtis of Boston and Alexandra Varney McDonald and her husband Michael of Hull, MA. He was the loving grandfather of 11 grandchildren: Dawn, Kate, David, Jeremy, Emily, Cleo, Richard, Clay, Maxwell, Nicholas and Meghan. He is also survived by seven great grandchildren, as well as a niece and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his siblings Janet Kassell, Stanley Riggs and David Walker Riggs.
A celebration of Paul's life with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on April 9th at the Old Ship Church, 90 Main St. in Hingham, MA.
Donations in honor of Paul's memory can be made to the following organizations:
— Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (uusc.org), 689 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139;
— Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, NH Youth Program, 669 Union St., Manchester, NH 03104; and
— Old Ship Youth Group for Social Action, 107 Main St., Hingham, MA 02043.
Arrangements are being handled by The Cremation Society of New Hampshire.
In November, Paul was one of only seven surviving World War II veterans in Hull, MA. Honored at the town's Veteran's Day celebration, Paul was recognized for his service in the Army Air Corp in World War II, as well as for piloting a P-51 "Mustang" fighter plane in the Korean War. In Korea, he flew exactly 100 reconnaissance missions as a member of the 45th Tactical "Polka Dot" Squadron. The men in their unit proudly sported helmets and scarves with their signature polka dots.
During his military service, Paul rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, earning the following military honors: the World War II American Theatre Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Throughout his life, Paul's family took pleasure listening to his stories of his military flying adventures. One particularly harrowing incident occurred when the instruments of his airplane suddenly stopped working, forcing him to navigate a safe landing through a thick fog, guided only by the lights of the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge. In Korea, he executed a difficult landing, setting his plane down safely in a rice paddy.
Paul was born in Trenton, NJ, to the Rev. Wilfrid P. Riggs Sr. and Pauline Swisher Riggs. Paul studied at Park College in Missouri and graduated from Columbia Business School in New York. A dedicated entrepreneur and amiable businessman, Paul was an award-winning salesman for the Brandt Company in New York City. Later, he founded his own company, Clean Air of New England, in which he sold and installed air purifying systems.
In 1974, Paul moved to Manchester, NH where he lived for 28 years before relocating with Lorraine to Hull. He was an active member of both the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, NH and after moving to Massachusetts, joined the Old Ship Unitarian Universalist Church in Hingham.
Paul had an ever-expanding dedication to social justice, as evidenced in his support for Veterans for Peace, PFLAG and Sustainable South Shore. He remained involved in politics, economics and world affairs.
Along with Lorraine, Paul held a deep love of music, singing tenor with the New Hampshire Symphony Chorus, Manchester Pro-Musica and other choral groups. He loved to sail at his camp on Loon Pond in New Hampshire, as well as build and fly kites with the younger members of his family.
Father of four children with Phyllis Pitt Riggs, he is the parent of and survived by Elsbeth Weller and her husband David of Arizona, Paul David Riggs and his wife Sharon of Hooksett, NH, Victoria Riggs Selleck and her spouse Jill Selleck of Shelburne Falls, MA and Catherine Joy Flemming and her husband David of Peterborough, NH.
Along with Lorraine and his children, Paul is also survived by his sister Mary Wells of New Jersey, his step-children Dean J. Varney and wife Erin DeCurtis of Boston and Alexandra Varney McDonald and her husband Michael of Hull, MA. He was the loving grandfather of 11 grandchildren: Dawn, Kate, David, Jeremy, Emily, Cleo, Richard, Clay, Maxwell, Nicholas and Meghan. He is also survived by seven great grandchildren, as well as a niece and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his siblings Janet Kassell, Stanley Riggs and David Walker Riggs.
A celebration of Paul's life with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on April 9th at the Old Ship Church, 90 Main St. in Hingham, MA.
Donations in honor of Paul's memory can be made to the following organizations:
— Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (uusc.org), 689 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139;
— Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, NH Youth Program, 669 Union St., Manchester, NH 03104; and
— Old Ship Youth Group for Social Action, 107 Main St., Hingham, MA 02043.
Arrangements are being handled by The Cremation Society of New Hampshire.
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