“Hey, hey, hey.”

William Douglas Riggs, known as “Bill” to most and “Doug” to his family, passed away surrounded by the love of his family after a five-year battle with cancer. Born March 21, 1943, in Louisville, Kentucky, he was the son of William Burdock “Amy” Riggs and Hazel (Harris) Riggs.

Bill shared 51 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Shirley Riggs. Together they built a life centered around faith, family, hard work, and service to others.

He is survived by his wife Shirley Riggs; his children Lonny Riggs, Bobby Riggs, and Carrie Riggs; and his stepchildren Gina Johnson and Ron Johnson. Bill was preceded in death by his infant son, William Mark Riggs (“Marky”), and his stepson Jack Johnson.

He is also survived by his brothers Tom Riggs and wife Mary, and Dave Riggs and wife Judy; and by his brother-in-law Lee McCoy. He was preceded in death by his sister Charlotte McCoy and sister-in-law Elaine.

Bill was deeply loved by his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bill proudly served in the National Guard and spent many years working as a sawyer at a local sawmill, a job that reflected the hard work and dedication he carried throughout his life. Even after retirement, illness, and injury, he continued to work whenever he could. For years, he delivered newspapers alongside his son Bob and faithfully rang the bell for the Salvation Army each Christmas season. Alongside Shirley and Bob, he spent many years helping clean and care for their church.

Bill and his son Bob shared a close bond and a special talent for working on cars and fixing just about anything. Bill especially had a knack for finding inexpensive cars that somehow always seemed to keep running for years.

Bill loved classic cars and attending car shows, camping at Woodsmen events, and spending time surrounded by nature and trees. He had a deep interest in history, especially the Civil War, and enjoyed traveling to Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. He especially loved watching his oldest son Lonny race cars and took great pride in his accomplishments.

Bill loved the Lord deeply, kept his Bible close, and found strength in his faith throughout his life. He also enjoyed watching television shows about aliens — something that often drove Shirley crazy and became a longtime family joke.

Though quiet by nature, Bill was kind-hearted, dependable, and deeply devoted to his family. One of his favorite sayings before heading somewhere was, “We’re off like a herd of turtles.” He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, unwavering work ethic, deep faith, and the many quiet ways he showed love to the people around him.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28

A memorial service will be held at 3:00PM on Tuesday June 2, 2025 at First Baptist Church 185 Union Avenue Sharpsville, Pennsylvania 16150.

Arrangements by Sample-O'Donnell Funeral Home 555 East State Street Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146.

Friends are invited to share memories and condolences with the Bill’s family by visiting www.sampleodonnelfh.com.