William Charles Rigby

William Charles (Bill) Rigby, 97, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. He was born in his family’s home on January 16, 1921, in Kaysville, Utah, to Frank L and Annie Parkes Rigby.

He graduated from Davis High School and later from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Accounting.  He married his eternal sweetheart, Doris Ruth Sessions, on April 22, 1943. They are together again, at last.

While at the university, Bill was in the ROTC and, upon graduation, was commissioned into the army, where he served during WWII as an officer in a field artillery battalion assigned to the European Theater of Operations. He attained the rank of Captain during his military service and also earned the Purple Heart for wounds he received in battle.

After the war, he and Doris built a home on his parents’ property where they lived throughout their lives. He had a great love for the land they lived on and always considered it a very blessed place; he took seriously his duty to care for it. Throughout his life, he worked diligently both in his career as an accountant and as a steward and improver of the land and area which he loved.

He titled his recently completed autobiography “A Fruitful and Pleasant Journey.” Throughout that journey he actively chose to put God first, followed by family, Church, and community, in that order. He gave diligent service to each, always striving to learn his duty and then to perform it in an excellent manner.  He trusted in the Lord and taught his family to do the same.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he held many callings, including Sunday School Superintendent, Ward Clerk, Bishop, Stake Clerk, Counselor in the Stake Presidency, Temple Ordinance Worker, and Stake Patriarch. In 1990-91, he and Doris served as office couple missionaries in the California, Los Angeles Mission. He served as a Patriarch for over 37 years, giving more than 2,000 Patriarchal blessings. He was released as an active Patriarch only a few months before his passing.

As an accountant, he worked for Clark Tank Lines, Hercules Powder Company and the State of Utah. He also worked part-time doing accounting work for several local businesses. He served on various community water and sewer boards, both as a clerk and a trustee, including the Central Davis County Sewer Board and the Farmington Area Pressurized Irrigation District, now Benchland Water District, helping to pioneer the development of viable sewer and secondary water systems in the local area. In addition, he worked the land he loved and passed on the principles of hard work and responsibility to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He is beloved by many. Countless people have felt the influence of his and Doris’s faithful and constant lives and are grateful for their association with them, especially their children and grandchildren, who adored them. Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Doris, a son-in-law, Bryant Evenson, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He is survived by his five children: Joy (Vaughn) Brown of Kaysville, Mark (Donna) Rigby of Kaysville, Geniel (Bryant) Evenson of Centerville, Darline (Mark) Elggren of Kaysville, and Kerrie (Rodney) Felt of Orem, as well as 24 grandchildren and 83 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at the Fairways Chapel, 1533 N. 1075 W. in Farmington Tuesday, October 9, at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family may call at the Fairways Chapel Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. and prior to the funeral Tuesday from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Interment Farmington City Cemetery.