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- Free Press, Greenfield, IA 29 Apr 1998: Cleoma Riggs, 96, Dies in Fontanelle
Cleoma Rigg was born March 17, 1902, to Charles Millard and Sarah Garber Rigg in Grove Township, Adair County. She was the sixth of nine children who blessed this home. She passed away April 22, 1998, at the Good Samaritan Center in Fontanelle at the age of 96.
Cleoma attended rural school in Grove Township and graduated from Greenfield High School in 1920. After teaching for three years in the rural schools of Adair County, she attended and received her BA degree from John Fletcher College at University Park. She continued her education in later years by attending the State University of Iowa, Drake University, University of Colorado in Boulder, and the University of Minnesota.
Teaching school was her ambition and she spent 19 years teaching students in Iowa at Bridgewater, Huxley, St. Charles, Pleasanton, Delphos, Plymouth, LeMars, Woodbine, and Eagle Grove. Her teaching profession was cut short when she returned home to be a care giver for her brother Bert, who suffered from Parkinson's disease and to be a homemaker for brothers Bert and Ted who had remained in the home established by their parents in Grove Township.
Cleoma and brother Ted moved to Greenfield in 1966. Here she was able to enter in the activities of the Literary Department and Garden Department of the Greenfield Women's Club, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Red Cross Bloodmobile, Adair County Farm Bureau Women, the Greenfield Girl Scout board, the Iowa Education Association, the Historical Society, Anquesters, and her church. She was always willing to lend a helping hand where ever she could.
Cleoma and her sister Elizabeth sponsored a graduate student, Monek Macwan from India for many years. They were especially interested in education in India because their sister Bessie had served in the Mission field there for several years and died there.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Elstun, Bert, Ted and John; and sisters: Bessie Rigg and Eusebia Hollingsworth.
She is survived by two sisters: Mary Launder, Brownsville, Ore. and Elizabeth Launder, Crimora, BA; nieces: Theoma Floyd, LuBerta Jones, Ann Cook, Anne Lamb and Dorothy DeVane; nephews: Joe and John Launder; cousins and friends.
Graveside services were held Monday, April 27, 1 p.m., at the Greenfield Cemetery, Greenfield. The Rev. Hugh Stone of the Greenfield United Methodist Church officiated.
Professional services were provided by Steen Funeral Homes.
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1902 - 1998 (96 years)
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