Ernestine Riggs

Ernestine G. Riggs, 93, died Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

Preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Merl Lynn Riggs; parents, Cosme R. and Leonor Garcia; brothers, Bertram Garcia, Olson Garcia; sister, Lorraine Garcia; son-in-law Phillip Lynn Strong. Survived by her daughter, Ruth René Strong; grandson, Matthew D. Strong; step-grandson, Stephen Strong (Christina) of Dade City, FL; step-great-grandchildren, Kevin Strong, Abigail Strong.

She graduated from Santa Fe HS in 1946 then attended York College in NE where she met her husband, Merl.  They lived in NE after being married in 1950 at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, NM, the oldest Protestant Church in NM.

She worked at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM from 1955 – 1981.

After retirement, she and Merl traveled extensively to the Hawaiian Islands many times, CA, OR, WA, SD, MO, NE, CO, PA, FL, AZ, IL, TX, Mexico, Spain, Italy and New Zealand.

But Ernestine’s adventurous spirit encouraged her to travel by herself, too. She spent a week in Paris and a week in London. She also traveled with her daughter to Canada & Mexico.

A highlight was an Alaska Cruise to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary and renew their wedding vows in a ceremony conducted by the ship’s captain.

She lived in Corrales & Albuquerque, NM from 1954-1993 and Centennial & Denver, CO from 1993-2022.

Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM, Wednesday September 7, 2020, Presbyterian Church of the Covenant; 5400 S Yosemite St, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. She will be buried next to Merl at Ft. Logan National Cemetery; 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO 80236

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Ernestine Riggs to: F.O.R.G. (Friends of Retired Greyhounds); 1402 S. Yates St. Denver, CO 80219