Robert Dunn Rigsby Atlanta, Georgia Obituary

Robert Dunn Rigsby

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After several years of decline from ALS, Robert Rigsby died at home in Dunwoody on Friday, August 5, 2022. He had remained as active as possible, fighting the illness, and was full of faith and love until the end. He was 75. Robert&rsquo;s daughter, Catherine Rigsby Wile, and his wife, Lynda Wingo Rigsby, were with him when he passed.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Robert was born on August 24, 1946 in Evergreen, Alabama to James Benjamin and Thelma Dunn Rigsby. Graduating from Evergreen High School in 1964, he was the vice-president of his senior class and lettered in football. Following that, he was the manager of the football team at Auburn University where he graduated in 1969. Always the Southern gentleman, Robert was a devoted Kappa Alpha throughout his life.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With a degree in textile engineering, Robert worked in the carpet industry, primarily as a sales representative with Beaulieu of America based in Dalton, Georgia. He was married to his college sweetheart, Jane Alyce Woodson for 35 years, until her death in 2006. He shared many good times with their daughter, Catherine, during her Indian Princess years (now called the YMCA Adventure Guides Program) as well as hikes and weekend adventures along the Chattahoochee River.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2010, Robert attended a wedding brunch for a close friend married to one of his fraternity brothers. It was there he met Lynda Thompson Wingo whose husband, David, had died in 2007. After a five-year courtship they married in 2015 and began enjoying family trips to their getaway house at Lake Burton and to Perdido Bay where they kept up close relationships to Jane Alyce&rsquo;s brothers and their wives. They had a particularly memorable trip to national parks in the west with her brother, Ken, and his wife, Jackie.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Robert was known to be a big hugger who loved social gatherings, whether at church or parties. He was kind and patient, loved classic country and Motown music. Always optimistic and outgoing, Robert was an upbeat warrior against ALS and as recently as last winter he was doing figure eights in his power scooter, waving to all as he passed by. Buddy, as he was known to his grandchildren, was an eager participant and photographer of the annual Jojo and Buddy Camp weeks each summer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>He was an active member of Les Marmitons (&ldquo;chef&rsquo;s helpers&rdquo;), an international men&rsquo;s cooking club with chapters throughout the world. Robert and group of about 30 men in the Sandy Springs chapter, met monthly to enjoy cooking and eating fine food, accompanied by good wines. At home, he was particularly known for his collard greens, though no two batches ever turned out the same, likely through his &ldquo;Robertizing&rdquo; recipes which he was known to do.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Robert is survived by his wife, Lynda Thompson Wingo Rigsby, and his daughter Catherine Rigsby Wile, her husband, Chip, and their three children: twin boys, Woodson and Rigsby, and daughter, Jane Alyce, all of Ormond Beach, Florida. He is also survived by his Lynda&rsquo;s sons: Charles Justin Wingo, his wife, Maggie, and their two children, Gaines and McLean, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Thomas Candler Wingo and his wife, Kelli, of Sugar Hill, Georgia. Maintaining a close relationship with his first wife&rsquo;s family, he is also survived by his sister-in-law, Betty Rigsby of Evergreen; and his brother-in-laws, Ken Woodson (Jackie) and John Woodson (Melissa) of Alabama. He was predeceased by his parents, first wife, Jane Alyce Woodson Rigsby (2006), and his older brother, James Conrad Rigsby.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Robert was an active and devoted member of the Church at Wieuca where he had served as a deacon, taught Sunday and Vacation Bible Schools. There will be a service in the Chapel there at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10 followed by a visitation with family in the Heritage Room; 3626 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting the fight against this cruel disease with a donation to the ALS Association, Georgia Chapter: 5881 Glenridge Drive, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30328.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>
August 24, 1946 - August 5, 202208/24/194608/05/2022
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After several years of decline from ALS, Robert Rigsby died at home in Dunwoody on Friday, August 5, 2022. He had remained as active as possible, fighting the illness, and was full of faith and love until the end. He was 75. Robert’s daughter, Catherine Rigsby Wile, and his wife, Lynda Wingo Rigsby, were with him when he passed.

 

Robert was born on August 24, 1946 in Evergreen, Alabama to James Benjamin and Thelma Dunn Rigsby. Graduating from Evergreen High School in 1964, he was the vice-president of his senior class and lettered in football. Following that, he was the manager of the football team at Auburn University where he graduated in 1969. Always the Southern gentleman, Robert was a devoted Kappa Alpha throughout his life.

 

With a degree in textile engineering, Robert worked in the carpet industry, primarily as a sales representative with Beaulieu of America based in Dalton, Georgia. He was married to his college sweetheart, Jane Alyce Woodson for 35 years, until her death in 2006. He shared many good times with their daughter, Catherine, during her Indian Princess years (now called the YMCA Adventure Guides Program) as well as hikes and weekend adventures along the Chattahoochee River.

 

In 2010, Robert attended a wedding brunch for a close friend married to one of his fraternity brothers. It was there he met Lynda Thompson Wingo whose husband, David, had died in 2007. After a five-year courtship they married in 2015 and began enjoying family trips to their getaway house at Lake Burton and to Perdido Bay where they kept up close relationships to Jane Alyce’s brothers and their wives. They had a particularly memorable trip to national parks in the west with her brother, Ken, and his wife, Jackie.

 

Robert was known to be a big hugger who loved social gatherings, whether at church or parties. He was kind and patient, loved classic country and Motown music. Always optimistic and outgoing, Robert was an upbeat warrior against ALS and as recently as last winter he was doing figure eights in his power scooter, waving to all as he passed by. Buddy, as he was known to his grandchildren, was an eager participant and photographer of the annual Jojo and Buddy Camp weeks each summer.

 

He was an active member of Les Marmitons (“chef’s helpers”), an international men’s cooking club with chapters throughout the world. Robert and group of about 30 men in the Sandy Springs chapter, met monthly to enjoy cooking and eating fine food, accompanied by good wines. At home, he was particularly known for his collard greens, though no two batches ever turned out the same, likely through his “Robertizing” recipes which he was known to do.

 

Robert is survived by his wife, Lynda Thompson Wingo Rigsby, and his daughter Catherine Rigsby Wile, her husband, Chip, and their three children: twin boys, Woodson and Rigsby, and daughter, Jane Alyce, all of Ormond Beach, Florida. He is also survived by his Lynda’s sons: Charles Justin Wingo, his wife, Maggie, and their two children, Gaines and McLean, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Thomas Candler Wingo and his wife, Kelli, of Sugar Hill, Georgia. Maintaining a close relationship with his first wife’s family, he is also survived by his sister-in-law, Betty Rigsby of Evergreen; and his brother-in-laws, Ken Woodson (Jackie) and John Woodson (Melissa) of Alabama. He was predeceased by his parents, first wife, Jane Alyce Woodson Rigsby (2006), and his older brother, James Conrad Rigsby.

 

Robert was an active and devoted member of the Church at Wieuca where he had served as a deacon, taught Sunday and Vacation Bible Schools. There will be a service in the Chapel there at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10 followed by a visitation with family in the Heritage Room; 3626 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting the fight against this cruel disease with a donation to the ALS Association, Georgia Chapter: 5881 Glenridge Drive, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30328.

 

 

 

 

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