Obituary: Virginia Heilbut Riggs

Virginia Heilbut Riggs 1923 ~ 2006 Virginia Heilbut Riggs passed away December 27, 2006 at the Courtyard at Jamestown in Provo, UT, of illness related to kidney and heart disease. She was born April 19, 1923 in Provo, to Philip Stephen and Blanche Armstrong Heilbut. She attended Salt Lake City schools, graduating from South High School. Her skill as a stenographer led to opportunities to transcribe for several patriarchs. Donald F. Riggs and Virginia were married on September 4, 1942 in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Provo in 1946, where Don and his father began a successful shoe business. In 1958, they moved to Oak Hills in Provo, where they built their beloved home. In 1967, Virginia began working at BYU. She worked in the Foreign Student Office for many years. She later became Administrative Assistant at the BYU Alumni Association, receiving the Emeritus Award from BYU in 1989. Following Don's death in 1987, Virginia lived alone in the family home for nearly fifteen years. Her last five years were spent at Courtyard at Jamestown in Provo. Virginia served in numerous ward and stake callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She particularly enjoyed her service as a Temple Worker and the time devoted to the Ellis Island project. Virginia is survived by her son Dennis (Syd) Riggs of Orem, and daughters Kathy (Lynn) Wright of West Linn, OR; Pat (Dennis) Riches of Los Altos Hills, CA; Debbie (Graham) Bullick of Poway, CA, and Terri (Steve) Proctor of Sandy; four siblings; Marjorie (deceased) and Syd Kramer, Dorothy (deceased) and Stan Telford, Marian and Keith Lignell of Salt Lake City, and Richard and Pearl Heilbut of Fresno, CA and dear family friends Hilda (Leland) Gamette of Provo, 22 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services at the Oak Hills 6th Ward Chapel, 2000 North 1500 East, Provo, on Friday, January 5, 2007, at 11 a.m. Viewings from 6 to 8 p.m. at the chapel on January 4th and one hour prior to services on the 5th. In lieu of flowers, Virginia would appreciate contributions to the Perpetual Education Fund. Condolences may be sent to info@BergMortuary.com