Don Riggs. 83, served the Lord Jesus Christ as pastor, evangelist, church statesman, missionary spokesman, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather until passing on Dec. 16.

He married Iris Evans Riggs. She survives.

He graduated from Beford Indiana High School.

His love for people and desire to see each individual come to Christ was the driving force of his life. Every church he pastored full time experienced growth requiring building addictions or new structures.

The Indianapolis West Morris Street Free Methodist Church, which he pastored full time from 1965 to 1977 and 1984-1989, sponsored the “Waves of Witness “radio broadcast and presented two Christmas television specials. While Don’s longest tenure was the 16 years at West Morris Street, he was a student pastor at Neoga, Ill., two years; Columbus, Ind, seven years; Vincennes, four years;  and Herman Los Angeles, Calif., three years.

After retirement, he pastored St. Petersburg, Fla., one year and Rocky Ford Columbus, Ind., one year and Winona Lake, one year.

“Make It Happen!” – Advancing To The Larger Local Church,” is a book Riggs wrote as a result of being asked to speak for numerous church growth and leadership conferences. Three different times the Free Methodist denomination called on him to serve: Director of the Department of Communications (1979), as the National Director of Harvest 1,000 (1991), and the coordinator of the Billy Graham, “My Hope” campaign, September 2013.

For eight years, Don Riggs was Vice President of Advancement and Pastor to Missionaries for OMS –ONEMISSION SOCIETY of Greenwood. A highlight of his ministry was serving as superintendent and principal of Los Angeles Pacific Christian High School. He has an earned doctorate from the California Graduate School of Theology and Fuller Seminary and was bestowed an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Greenville College, in Greenville, Ill., in 1975. He later served 25 years on the Board of Trustees of Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky.

Additional survivors include: two daughters, Karla Riggs Norton of Greenwood, and Kathy Riggs Sorenson (Rick) of Yorba Linda, Calif., serve in Christian ministry; and grandchildren, Valerie Norton, Jonathan Norton (Katie), Andrew Sorenson (Heather and baby Isaac), and Emily Sorenson Barfell (Richard); and siblings: David Riggs (Margaret), John Wilford Riggs (Myra) and Diedra (Bob) Marsh who all reside in the Bedford area.

Riggs was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Elmer Riggs, mother, Maurine Denbo Riggs, and sister, Yvonne Sandefer (Max).

Unfathomable gratitude is extended to Community South 4th floor Oncology staff, Dr. Bradley Orris and staff of Urology of Indiana and Community Hospice.

His life of service will be honored at the West Morris Street Free Methodist Church 2302 West Morris St, Indianapolis,  at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25. Pastor Mike Conkle will officiate.