Jim Riggin

Early in the morning on February 15, 2024, Jim passed away peacefully in his sleep after a prolonged battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Jim was 61 years old.

Jim was born on January 29, 1963 to Bernard Riggin, Sr. and Bertha (Cholock) Riggin at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was the middle child, after Bernard Riggin Jr. and before Lynette (Riggin) Mitchell.

Jim grew up in Uniontown Pennsylvania where he loved competing in sports, working a paper route from the age of 9, and developed a lifelong love for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After he graduated from Uniontown High School in 1981, he relocated to Fort Worth, Texas where he met his wife Cindy and began working as a Telephone Repair Technician at GTE. Jim was a man who loved to work and was never comfortable sitting still.

Jim and Cindy married on July 23, 1982 in Richland Hills, Texas and resided in North Richland Hills with their two children Amanda and Wade. As a young father, Jim loved spending time fishing with his children, playing basketball in local recreation leagues, lifting weights and playing practical jokes on the family. He was well known for his great sense of humor and his quick wit. Jim started working at Southwest Airlines in the Provisions Department in 1994. He loved his job and held high regard for the company.

At the age of 37, Jim was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. As the effects of MS began to wear on his physical ability, Southwest Airlines allowed him to continue to work in their stock room until he took early retirement 4 years later in 2004.

Jim eventually moved into assisted living at Eden Estates where he continued to make numerous friends and enjoy the social life that he loved so much. He took with him his beloved service dog Emmitt who became his ever-constant companion. Jim’s electric personality and his ability to make friends facilitated him being voted in as President of the Board of Residents. When Jim’s condition worsened, he moved to Holiday Lane Estates where after the passing of Emmitt, Jim welcomed his new service dog Sparrow, and she became a partner during the year of Covid Lockdown. At both Eden Estates and at Holiday Lane Estates he enjoyed eating with the other residents, playing trivial pursuit, reading novels, attending ALL parties and being a voice for others.

As MS caused his physical abilities to decline, he found joy in following all sports, competing in fantasy sports leagues, family get togethers, and going to the movies. Through the years, Jim became increasingly less mobile but still made an extra effort to attend church services at North Beach Street Church of Christ and then Keller Church of Christ. He enjoyed visits with his children and granddaughter, Lucy. Jim never lost his sense of humor, his ability to make people laugh and his zest for life. As he would always say, “Good Times, Indeed”.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Bertha Riggin. Jim is survived by his wife, Cindy Riggin; Daughter, Amanda Riggin-Middleton and Kyle Middleton of Pleasanton, Texas; Son, Wade Riggin and Erin Walling of Edmond, Oklahoma; Granddaughter, Lucy Riggin of Edmond, Oklahoma; Brother, Bernard Riggin Jr of Athens, Tennessee; Sister, Lynette Mitchell of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; and numerous extended family members.