Ernest C. ‘Ernie’ Riggles, 96, a near lifelong Sedro-Woolley resident, passed away at his home on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
Ernie was born on the family farm in Sedro-Woolley on April 10, 1922 the son of Homer & Margaret (Wagner) Riggles. He was raised and attended school in Sedro-Woolley, graduating from Sedro-Woolley High School with the class of 1941. He then went to Seattle where he enrolled in a National Youth Administration program in the aircraft industry so he could pursue a job with Boeing.
On May 30, 1942 he was united in marriage to June Black at the home of her parents in Hamilton and they made their home in Seattle and Bellingham as Ernie was working for Boeing. They later settled in Sedro-Woolley and Ernie worked for several years at Skagit Steel and Skagit PUD and then began a long career in typewriter and office machinery repair, working for Valley Business Machines and then for 18 years at N.A.S. Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor.
Ernie was a charter member of the Cascade 2 Cylinder tractor club; a 70 year member of the Grange; he enjoyed family camping and fishing trips to Baker Lake and all the special family dinners; he enjoyed logging the timber on 80 acres he owned off Helmick Road and he operated a small farm on Wicker Road where he grew hay and raised cattle, selling the milk to the Dairygold plant in Burlington.
Ernie is survived by his wife of 76 years, June, at the family home; his daughters, Sharon Strock of Mount Vernon, Barbara Hoffman of Sedro-Woolley and Susie Ovenell of Quincy; two brothers, Orville Riggles of Mount Vernon and Charlie Riggles of Sedro-Woolley; special nephew, Ray Riggles; nine grandchildren, Kim Chadwick, Kelly Beebe, Katherine Edgeston, Chris Anderson (Jeff), Jeanne Aungst (Carter), Shelly Black (Brett), Tom Ovenell (Amy), Colin Ovenell (Teena) and Brandon Ovenell; 26 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Violet Whitaker, and numerous other nieces and nephews; He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, George, brothers, Virgil and Ralph and 2 sons-in-law, Bob Hoffman and Dave Ovenell.
The family would like to thank Hospice of the Northwest and Ernie’s caregivers Candy and Shannon for their loving care.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Northwest, the Sedro-Woolley First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.
Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery with Pastor Paul Gibson officiating. Visitation will be available Tuesday & Wednesday from 9am to 5pm and on Thursday from 9am to noon.