Eugene "Gene" David Riggs

Captain Gene Riggs passed away Wednesday, December 29th, in Enumclaw, WA, after suffering a massive stroke earlier in the month, at the too young age of 76. Gene was born September 5th, 1945 at the Alameda Naval Base in Oakland, CA, the oldest child of Everett Eugene Riggs and Laura Holmes Riggs.

Gene grew up in Sitka, AK and graduated from Sitka High School in 1963. Gene was a brilliant pilot and gifted mechanic and began his professional flying career in 1965 in Petersburg, AK with Lon’s Flying Service where he was one of the youngest commercial pilots in the area. In 1967 he moved to Juneau, AK to fly for Alaska Coastal-Ellis (which later became Alaska Airlines). He later moved to Crest Air Park in Kent, WA and flew out of Seattle for the remainder of his 26-year career with Alaska Airlines. After retiring from commercial flying, he moved back north and settled in Big Lake, AK on an air strip where he lived until medical needs brought him back to Washington in 2021. He was a big kid with big toys, a great storyteller, and made friends wherever he went. When he wasn’t flying jets, he was flying (or repairing) one of his or his friends’ planes, fishing, or, in the early years, hunting. Other adventures include twice competing in the Iron Dog, the world’s longest snowmobile race, as well as some extensive motorcycle road trips.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Johnny Lee Riggs; and his nephew, Wayde Leonard Luce. He is survived by his five children, daughters, Billie Riggs Otto (Steve) of Tacoma, WA, Camille Marie Brandon (John) of Black Diamond, WA and Amanda Failing (Adam) of Wasilla, AK; sons, Everett Eugene Riggs (Amanda) of Buckley, WA and Eugene David Riggs Jr of Shoreline, WA; his brother, Robert Everett Riggs (Lucy) of Emmett, ID; sister, Marilyn Luce (Norman) of Nevada; nieces, Sandi Riggs, Kelli Eliason and Leah Luce, nephews, Robert Everett Riggs Jr., Dale, Nathan and Scott Luce; and nine grandchildren.

Come join us in remembering the life and legacy of Eugene Riggs, Beloved Father, Friend, and Captain.
Saturday, July 9, 2022 from 12 noon- 3 p.m.
17604 SE 301st St, Kent, WA 98042-5715, United States (We will be using the hangar.)

Enjoy a BBQ lunch served at 1 p.m. and share all of your stories and memories.

If you have pictures, we’d love to see them!

Please RSVP for lunch by June 24th to Amanda at 907-203-0364 with number of attendees.

If you plan on flying in to Crest Airpark, please note that you will need to take taxiway (letter) “I” to the end.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eugene "Gene" David Riggs, please visit our floral store.