Dr. A. Patrick Riggins, Jr.

1932 in Cincinnati, Pat grew up on a farm just east of Indianapolis.

He resided in Richmond, Carmel and Bloomington; and in various states

in the eastern half of the nation. He graduated from Warren Central

High School, and received his Bachelors in Agriculture from Purdue

University. He earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the

University of Missouri and a Masters in Business from Indiana

University. He practiced as a small- and large-animal veterinarian,

performed clinical research in the pharmaceutical and medical

industries, and supervised laboratory animal facilities for IU and

several other universities and hospitals.

Pat was a family man. He led his family with love, faithfulness, and

a keen sense of righteousness. In 1954 while on leave from the Army

he married Dorothy Greene, whom he met while Christmas caroling on

school break. Many were the hours spent attending their sons’ and

grandchildren’s concerts, games, school assemblies, shows and more.

His family extended to his church, First Presbyterian of Bloomington,

especially its children. Pat served the church as an elder, trustee

and member of pastoral nominating committees. He took particular

interest in the church’s involvement with the Heifer Project and

mentored several confirmands.

He and Dotti have generously supported the church and a long list of

other organizations. He epitomized the Rotary Club‘s motto, “Service

above Self“. A Paul Harris Fellow, he served as president of the

Bloomington Rotary Tuesday lunchtime club and as District Governor.

He and Dotti hosted numerous Rotary overseas exchange students

(developing a world-wide network of friends), chaired the district’s

committee for the eradication of polio, and helped support the club’s

Teachers’ Warehouse. He was president of the 7th district of the

American Veterinary Medical Association, the Indiana Association for

Lab Animal Sciences and the Bloomington Hospital Auxiliary. He

chaired the Monroe County Animal Control Commission and served as

secretary of the Salvation Army Board of Directors.

Pat volunteered at Bloomington Hospital at their information desk. He

and Dotti volunteered as gatekeepers at Custer State Park in South

Dakota. They have delivered Meals on Wheels and bagged groceries for

Area 10 Agency on Aging. During his lifetime, he donated over 17

gallons of blood to the American Red Cross.

In 2009 the City of Bloomington recognized Pat and Dotti with the Be

More Lifetime Achievement award in volunteering. Pat was named a

Sagamore of the Wabash. He was an avid cyclist and woodworker.

Pat was widely known for his wry sense of humor, his intellectual

curiosity, the joy of his friendships with people young and old and

from all walks of life, and his love of music--all of which he passed

on to his sons. He played the trombone and sang in church choirs,

broadcast for Golden Age Radio on WFHB, and was a tireless supporter

of live music.

Pat Riggins is survived by Dotti, his wife of 55-plus years, and their

sons Mike and his wife Linda, Tim and his wife Claire, Dennis and his

fiancée Katie, and Matt and his wife Lori. Pat and Dotti have six

grandchildren: Laura, Molly, Daniel, Alice, Connor and Lanie. He is

also survived by a brother, Steve Riggins, and a sister, Kathy

Doerbaum.

Friends may call at the Day Funeral Home on Sunday, March 21, from 2 – 6 PM. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, March 22, at 1:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church with Minister Eric Erickson and Associate Minister Rachel Pedersen.

The family asks that contributions be directed to the First

Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, the Heifer Project or the Rotary

Club’s Teacher’s Warehouse.