David Lee Riggle, 84, of Mather, Pa., died Sunday, September 16, 2018. He was born August 17, 1934, in Waynesburg, to the late Perry W. Riggle and Opal F. (McCracken) Riggle.
He was united in marriage to Joan Marie Gardner on June 29, 1960, and together they raised five children.
Dave worked in the natural gas industry for 40 years and served as secretary-treasurer of his union chapter for a number of years. He was a United States Army veteran and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons (Lodge No. 153).
Dave was a people person, who could talk with anyone and seldom forgot an acquaintance. He was a handyman who could construct, repair or jerry-rig almost anything. He was a storyteller who loved to share humorous anecdotes with family and friends. But most of all, he was a family man who always considered and put the needs of his wife and children first.
In his spare time, Dave enjoyed watching football and comedy sitcoms from the 70s, following local and national politics, writing scathing or sarcastic letters to elected officials, and spending time with family and friends around the kitchen table. He had an obsession for making lists and recording the day’s events on a wall calendar. He only wore shirts with a chest pocket, and a pen and calculator was never far from his fingertips.
His children take pride in how he pursued and earned his GED after retiring from the work force. We fondly remember being piled into the car on most Sunday afternoons to visit Grandma Riggle or to take a long drive on country back roads, stopping for ice cream (dad’s favorite dessert) before returning home; and learning a few choice words and colorful phrases from dad when one of his projects/repairs did not work out as planned. We are grateful for the good life and loving home he and mom provided for us.
Dave was a loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather who will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan Marie Gardner Riggle; four children and their spouses, Brenda Riggle, of Morgantown, Lori and Michael Cardilli, of Mentor, Ohio, Scott and Jennifer Riggle, of Havelock, N.C., Keith and Holly Riggle, of Morgantown; two grandchildren, Erica Cardilli and Perry Riggle; a sister, Diane (Craig) Younken; a brother-in-law, Bill (Georgann) Gardner; three sisters-in-law, Virginia Battistoni, Evelyn (Al) Earls, and Karen (Ray) Burich; along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Kevin Riggle; a brother, Lloyd Riggle; a sister, Loreen Spragg; and a granddaughter, Ellie Riggle.
In accordance with Dave’s wishes, no visitation or memorial service will be held.
Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Behm Funeral Home, in Jefferson, Pa.
Condolences: behm-funeralhomes.com.
