William Rigdon, 87

William P. Rigdon died on July 21, 2021, at the age of 87 years old due to the infirmities of advanced age.

A native of Gaston, Ind., Bill attended Ball State University and proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following college graduation, he joined General Telephone & Electronics Company (GTE, later Verizon). Bill held the position of Vice-President/General Manager, N.W. - S. Area, at the time of his 30 year career retirement.

Following his early corporate retirement, Bill maintained a strong work ethic and continued to work in such diverse fields as automotive sales management, hotel management and financial counseling. He finally permanently retired at age 72.

During his corporate career Bill was a member of Rotary, a Jaycee President, member of several Chamber of Commerce Boards of Directors, member of the Hayden Lake Country Club and served two years as the Chairman of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI). Later in retirement he was an active member of the Pima County Arizona Volunteer Sheriff’s Auxiliary.

Bill married his loving wife, Pat, in 1998. They enjoyed many happy years in retirement. They shared a special long-standing relationship with a group of Marines (and their spouses) with whom Bill (Pappy) had served. Bill and Pat were enthusiastic tennis players and played frequently until their later years. Bill maintained a longtime interest in the restoration and maintenance of antique and vintage automobiles and tremendously enjoyed the hobby.

The Rigdons maintained a very special 4 p.m. ritual sip and talk time nearly every evening during retirement. To say they enjoyed each other’s company would be an understatement. In 2015 at age 81, Bill wrote a story of his life for the benefit of his family and very close friends entitled “The Life and Times of a Hoosier Farm Boy” chronicling his journey from a youth on the original Rigdon homestead farm to his retirement in Arizona.

Bill is survived by his wife, Patricia, daughter Cathy Ann Ackerman, daughter Kathi Jo Spaulding, grandson Tyler Spaulding, his partner Julianne and great-granddaughter Kassidy, stepson Scott Reese, wife Mary, granddaughters, Ashley, Jaclyn and Hailey, and stepson Jeff Reese, wife Lindsay and extended family along with Bill’s former wife Marlene Rigdon. At Bill’s request, no services are planned. He donated his body to Midwestern University for the benefit of medical research, training and education.