Rigby Gene Sanders, 75, formerly of Pottsville, Arkansas, gained his "Heavenly Wings" on March 9, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.
Rigby, AKA, "Gene", "Gunny", was born in Ada, Oklahoma to the late Loyd "Hap" and Arvilla Morse Sanders. He passed from this life on March 9, 2017, at his home in Gold Canyon, (Apache Junction), AZ., after a lengthy illness. He was a member of the Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Dardanelle, Arkansas; the opening words of his testimony were always: "I-I-I
L-L-O-O-V-V-E-E, J-J-J-E-E-S-S-U-U-S-S, WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, AND MIND."
Rigby was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Jim and Dottie Loftin; one brother, Lloyd Wayne Sanders; a grandson and daughter-in-law, Donnie "Scooter" and Andrea Matthews Sanders; one son, Kevin Sean Sanders; a nephew, Danny Sanders and a step-son, Rupert Errol Halsted.
Rigby entered the Marine Corp in November 1959, was a Viet Nam Vet, retiring after 30 years of Honorable Service, in 1990. Later, he retired from the State of Oklahoma, Tourism and Recreation. He loved spending time with his family and playing with the grandchildren. His favorite past-times were reading and studying his Bible, decorating his many caps/hats and gardening.
Survivors include, his wife of 41 years, Sharon; son, Scott (Ronda) Sanders; Step-sons, Lionel and Earl W. (Sonya) Halsted; Step-daughter, Vanessa (Rhett) Beckman; Grandson, Clayton Sanders; Grand-daughters, Laci Sanders and Lexie Wigley Mauney; Step-grandchildren, Chanie Shores, Michaela, Traci, Joshua, Jason (Tiffany), Sgt. Michael Halsted; Melanie (Travis)Rhynes, Megan Beckman, Ritchie and Brandon Thornburg; Step Great grandchildren, Collin, Macy, McKenna and Aubrie Halsted; a good friend, Kelly Inman. All of these children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, to him, were his children; he did not recognize them as step. In turn, they all loved him, as dad, grandpa or papa. Rigby was also a surrogate to many young Marines, whom he treated and cared for as "his children" by taking them under his wing, making sure those young men were treated with dignity, respect and honor.
A Celebration of Life service was held at the New Life Worship Center, Mesa, AZ, with Jason Halsted officiating and at the Witts Springs Community Center, Witts Springs, Arkansas, with Rev. Bob Houghton officiating. The eulogy was read by Carl Smith.
Rigby's final resting place will be in the Witts Springs Cemetery, Witts Springs, Arkansas. Cremation services provided by Horizon Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Rigby, AKA, "Gene", "Gunny", was born in Ada, Oklahoma to the late Loyd "Hap" and Arvilla Morse Sanders. He passed from this life on March 9, 2017, at his home in Gold Canyon, (Apache Junction), AZ., after a lengthy illness. He was a member of the Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Dardanelle, Arkansas; the opening words of his testimony were always: "I-I-I
L-L-O-O-V-V-E-E, J-J-J-E-E-S-S-U-U-S-S, WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, AND MIND."
Rigby was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Jim and Dottie Loftin; one brother, Lloyd Wayne Sanders; a grandson and daughter-in-law, Donnie "Scooter" and Andrea Matthews Sanders; one son, Kevin Sean Sanders; a nephew, Danny Sanders and a step-son, Rupert Errol Halsted.
Rigby entered the Marine Corp in November 1959, was a Viet Nam Vet, retiring after 30 years of Honorable Service, in 1990. Later, he retired from the State of Oklahoma, Tourism and Recreation. He loved spending time with his family and playing with the grandchildren. His favorite past-times were reading and studying his Bible, decorating his many caps/hats and gardening.
Survivors include, his wife of 41 years, Sharon; son, Scott (Ronda) Sanders; Step-sons, Lionel and Earl W. (Sonya) Halsted; Step-daughter, Vanessa (Rhett) Beckman; Grandson, Clayton Sanders; Grand-daughters, Laci Sanders and Lexie Wigley Mauney; Step-grandchildren, Chanie Shores, Michaela, Traci, Joshua, Jason (Tiffany), Sgt. Michael Halsted; Melanie (Travis)Rhynes, Megan Beckman, Ritchie and Brandon Thornburg; Step Great grandchildren, Collin, Macy, McKenna and Aubrie Halsted; a good friend, Kelly Inman. All of these children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, to him, were his children; he did not recognize them as step. In turn, they all loved him, as dad, grandpa or papa. Rigby was also a surrogate to many young Marines, whom he treated and cared for as "his children" by taking them under his wing, making sure those young men were treated with dignity, respect and honor.
A Celebration of Life service was held at the New Life Worship Center, Mesa, AZ, with Jason Halsted officiating and at the Witts Springs Community Center, Witts Springs, Arkansas, with Rev. Bob Houghton officiating. The eulogy was read by Carl Smith.
Rigby's final resting place will be in the Witts Springs Cemetery, Witts Springs, Arkansas. Cremation services provided by Horizon Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Rigby Gene Sanders, 75, formerly of Pottsville, Arkansas, gained his "Heavenly Wings" on March 9, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.
Rigby, AKA, "Gene", "Gunny", was born in Ada, Oklahoma to the late Loyd "Hap" and Arvilla Morse Sanders. He passed from this life on March 9, 2017, at his home in Gold Canyon, (Apache Junction), AZ., after a lengthy illness. He was a member of the Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Dardanelle, Arkansas; the opening words of his testimony were always: "I-I-I
L-L-O-O-V-V-E-E, J-J-J-E-E-S-S-U-U-S-S, WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, AND MIND."
Rigby was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Jim and Dottie Loftin; one brother, Lloyd Wayne Sanders; a grandson and daughter-in-law, Donnie "Scooter" and Andrea Matthews Sanders; one son, Kevin Sean Sanders; a nephew, Danny Sanders and a step-son, Rupert Errol Halsted.
Rigby entered the Marine Corp in November 1959, was a Viet Nam Vet, retiring after 30 years of Honorable Service, in 1990. Later, he retired from the State of Oklahoma, Tourism and Recreation. He loved spending time with his family and playing with the grandchildren. His favorite past-times were reading and studying his Bible, decorating his many caps/hats and gardening.
Survivors include, his wife of 41 years, Sharon; son, Scott (Ronda) Sanders; Step-sons, Lionel and Earl W. (Sonya) Halsted; Step-daughter, Vanessa (Rhett) Beckman; Grandson, Clayton Sanders; Grand-daughters, Laci Sanders and Lexie Wigley Mauney; Step-grandchildren, Chanie Shores, Michaela, Traci, Joshua, Jason (Tiffany), Sgt. Michael Halsted; Melanie (Travis)Rhynes, Megan Beckman, Ritchie and Brandon Thornburg; Step Great grandchildren, Collin, Macy, McKenna and Aubrie Halsted; a good friend, Kelly Inman. All of these children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, to him, were his children; he did not recognize them as step. In turn, they all loved him, as dad, grandpa or papa. Rigby was also a surrogate to many young Marines, whom he treated and cared for as "his children" by taking them under his wing, making sure those young men were treated with dignity, respect and honor.
A Celebration of Life service was held at the New Life Worship Center, Mesa, AZ, with Jason Halsted officiating and at the Witts Springs Community Center, Witts Springs, Arkansas, with Rev. Bob Houghton officiating. The eulogy was read by Carl Smith.
Rigby's final resting place will be in the Witts Springs Cemetery, Witts Springs, Arkansas. Cremation services provided by Horizon Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Rigby, AKA, "Gene", "Gunny", was born in Ada, Oklahoma to the late Loyd "Hap" and Arvilla Morse Sanders. He passed from this life on March 9, 2017, at his home in Gold Canyon, (Apache Junction), AZ., after a lengthy illness. He was a member of the Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Dardanelle, Arkansas; the opening words of his testimony were always: "I-I-I
L-L-O-O-V-V-E-E, J-J-J-E-E-S-S-U-U-S-S, WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, AND MIND."
Rigby was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Jim and Dottie Loftin; one brother, Lloyd Wayne Sanders; a grandson and daughter-in-law, Donnie "Scooter" and Andrea Matthews Sanders; one son, Kevin Sean Sanders; a nephew, Danny Sanders and a step-son, Rupert Errol Halsted.
Rigby entered the Marine Corp in November 1959, was a Viet Nam Vet, retiring after 30 years of Honorable Service, in 1990. Later, he retired from the State of Oklahoma, Tourism and Recreation. He loved spending time with his family and playing with the grandchildren. His favorite past-times were reading and studying his Bible, decorating his many caps/hats and gardening.
Survivors include, his wife of 41 years, Sharon; son, Scott (Ronda) Sanders; Step-sons, Lionel and Earl W. (Sonya) Halsted; Step-daughter, Vanessa (Rhett) Beckman; Grandson, Clayton Sanders; Grand-daughters, Laci Sanders and Lexie Wigley Mauney; Step-grandchildren, Chanie Shores, Michaela, Traci, Joshua, Jason (Tiffany), Sgt. Michael Halsted; Melanie (Travis)Rhynes, Megan Beckman, Ritchie and Brandon Thornburg; Step Great grandchildren, Collin, Macy, McKenna and Aubrie Halsted; a good friend, Kelly Inman. All of these children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, to him, were his children; he did not recognize them as step. In turn, they all loved him, as dad, grandpa or papa. Rigby was also a surrogate to many young Marines, whom he treated and cared for as "his children" by taking them under his wing, making sure those young men were treated with dignity, respect and honor.
A Celebration of Life service was held at the New Life Worship Center, Mesa, AZ, with Jason Halsted officiating and at the Witts Springs Community Center, Witts Springs, Arkansas, with Rev. Bob Houghton officiating. The eulogy was read by Carl Smith.
Rigby's final resting place will be in the Witts Springs Cemetery, Witts Springs, Arkansas. Cremation services provided by Horizon Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations may be made to a charity of choice.
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