Richard E Higginbotham

HIGGINBOTHAM, Richard E., 76, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died at his home on Friday, May 27, 2011. He honorably served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and impacted the lives of Alabama's public education students, teachers, and administrators as a teacher, coach, principal, and state employee for 36 years. Richard's volunteer work further impacted the community through various ministries of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, the Capitol Masonic Lodge, and the Montgomery Valley Scottish Rite/KCCH. Funeral services and interment will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Alabama Heritage Funeral Home and Cemetery located at 10505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL with Dr. Tim Thompson officiating. There will be a visitation hour at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, George W. and Lydia (Bowman) Higginbotham; by four sisters, Florence (Higginbotham) Gaskey, Audrie (Higginbotham) Matthews, Lois (Higginbotham) Nelson, and Ellen (Higginbotham) Woods; and by a granddaughter, Julia Elaine Higginbotham. Richard is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kathryn (Graham) Higginbotham; daughter, Kay (Higginbotham) Toole, Montgomery, AL; son, David Higginbotham, Colorado Springs, CO; son-in-law, Joe Toole, Montgomery, AL; daughter-in-law, Ginger (Keith) Higginbotham, Colorado Springs, CO; and three grandchildren, Jacob Higginbotham, Colorado Springs, CO; Kathryn Toole, Montgomery, AL; John Toole, Montgomery, AL. Active Pallbearers are Bill Allison, Roy Guthrie, Bill Johnson, Paul Mann, Sidney Rooker, and Buddy Wilson. Honorary Pallbearers are Frazer UMC's Encouragers' Class, the Capitol Masonic Lodge, the Montgomery Valley Scottish Rite/KCCH, and Dr. Keith Hughes. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard's honor may be made to the following: Wesley Gardens' Auxiliary Fund, Amedisys Hospice Care of Montgomery, the Salvation Army, or Scottish Rite Charities. Condolences may be offered at www.alabamaheritagefh.com. Alabama Heritage Directing.