Wilfred ‘Paul’ Riggs Jr., at 93
Wilfred “Paul” Riggs Jr. of Hull died peacefully on Jan. 21. 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, Mr. Riggs was one of only seven surviving World War II veterans in Hull. Honored at the town’s Veterans’ Day observance, Mr. Riggs was recognized for his service in the Army Air Corps in World War II, as well as for piloting a P-51 “Mustang” fighter plane in both World War II and Korea.
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, Mr. Riggs rose to the rank of first lieutenant, earning the following 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, his 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.
Mr. Riggs was born in Trenton, NJ to the Rev. Wilfrid P. Riggs Sr. and Pauline Swisher Riggs. He studied at Park College in Missouri and graduated from Columbia Business School in New York. A dedicated entrepreneur and amiable businessman, Mr. Riggs 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, he 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 Church in Hingham.
Mr. Riggs 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 his wife, he 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 is 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, and Catherine Joy Flemming and her husband, David, of Peterborough, NH.
Mr. Riggs is also survived by his sister, Mary Wells, of New Jersey; his stepchildren, Dean J. Varney and wife, Erin DeCurtis, of Boston, and Alexandra Varney McDonald and her husband, Michael, of Hull. He was the loving grandfather of 11 grandchildren: Dawn, Kate, David, Jeremy, Emily, Cleo, Richard, Clay, Maxwell, Nicholas and Meghan. He also leaves seven great grandchildren, as well as a niece and nephews. He was pre-deceased by three siblings, Janet Kassell, Stanley Riggs, and David Walker Riggs.
Arrangements are being handled by The Cremation Society of New Hampshire. A celebration of Paul’s life with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on April 9 at the Old Ship Church, 90 Main St. in Hingham.
Memorial donations may be made to:
• 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; or
• Old Ship Youth Group for Social Action, 107 Main St., Hingham, MA 02043.
